Protective Effects of Carvedilol and Vitamin C against Azithromycin-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Rats via Decreasing ROS, IL1-β, and TNF-α Production and Inhibiting NF-κB and Caspase-3 Expression

Figure 8

Effect of carvedilol and vitamin C on the myocardial muscle histopathological changes detected by H&E staining in azithromycin-treated rats. Light micrograph of rat heart ((a1) and (a2)). Control showing intact muscle fibers arranged as bundles (thin arrows) with normal connective tissue spaces (stars). ((b1)–(b4)) Azithromycin-treated rats showing marked atrophy of cardiac muscle fibers (thin arrows) with increased tissue spaces (stars), and coronary arteries are also dilated and congested and even ruptured (thick arrows) within the atrophy of their muscular walls. (c) Carvedilol + azithromycin-treated rats showing absence of capillary congestion and hemorrhage with marked preservation of cardiomyocyte morphology and tissue space (arrows and stars). (d) Vitamin C + azithromycin-treated rats showing neither congestion nor hemorrhage but still a moderate presence of cardiac muscle atrophy (sections are H&E stained ×20).