The influence of low-level laser therapy on parameters of oxidative stress and DNA damage on muscle and plasma in rats with heart failure

In heart failure (HF), there is an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and the synthesis of antioxidant enzymes, causing damage to the cardiovascular function and increased susceptibility to DNA damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on parameters of oxidative stress and DNA damage in skeletal muscle and plasma of rats with HF. Wistar rats were allocated into six groups: “placebo” HF rats (P-HF, n = 9), “placebo” Sham rats (P-sham, n = 8), HF rats at a dose 3 J/cm² of LLLT (3 J/cm²-HF, n = 8), sham rats at a dose 3 J/cm² of LLLT (3 J/cm²-sham, n = 8), HF rats at a dose 21 J/cm² of LLLT (21 J/cm²-HF, n = 8) and sham rats at a dose 21 J/cm² of LLLT (21 J/cm²-sham, n = 8). Animals were submitted to a LLLT protocol for 10 days at the right gastrocnemius muscle. Comparison between groups showed a significant reduction in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the 3 J/cm²-HF group (p = 0.03) and the 21 J/cm²-HF group (p = 0.01) compared to the P-HF group. 2′,7′-Dihydrodichlorofluorescein (DCFH) oxidation levels showed a decrease when comparing 3 J/cm²-sham to P-sham (p = 0.02). The DNA damage index had a significant increase either in 21 J/cm²-HF or 21 J/cm²-sham in comparison to P-HF (p = 0.004) and P-sham (p = 0.001) and to 3 J/cm²-HF (p = 0.007) and 3 J/cm²-sham (p = 0.037), respectively. Based on this, laser therapy appears to reduce SOD activity and DCFH oxidation levels, changing the oxidative balance in the skeletal muscle of HF rats. Otherwise, high doses of LLLT seem to increase DNA damage.