[Protective effect of berberine on cardiac hypertrophy induced by L-thyroxine in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of berberine on cardiac hypertrophy induceded by L-thyroxine(L-Thy) in rats.


METHODS
A cardiac hypertrophy model was produced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of L-thyroxine 0.5 mg/(kg.d) x 10 d. 24 SD rats were divided into three groups: 1. control (normal saline); 2. L-Thy; 3. i.p. L-Thy + berberine gastrogavage 30 mg/(kg.d) x 10 d. Then the cardiac indexes, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity, Ca(2+)-ATPase activity, the cardiac nitric oxide (NO) content, and the CaN activity were measured.


RESULTS
Compared with the measurements in the control group, the cardiac indexes and the CaN activity were remarkably increased in the hypertrophy group (P < 0.01), but the cardiac NO content, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity and Ca(2+)-ATPase activity in myocardium were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Further comparison between the hypertrophy group and the L-Thy + berberine group showed that berberine 30 mg/(kg.d) x 10 d prevented the ventricular hypertrophy induced by L-Thy and decreased the cardiac indexes and CaN activity (P < 0.01); berberine elevated the cardiac NO content, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity and Ca(2+)-ATPase activity (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Berberine can prevent the cardiac hypertrophy induced by L-thyroxine in rats.
Yang
Jing
J
Department of Physiology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Zhou
Zu-yu
ZY
Xu
Jian-guo
JG
D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000378:metabolism; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism*; D013974:Thyroxine
C503554:Atp1b1 protein, rat; D021122:Protein Subunits; D001599:Berberine; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; D013974:Thyroxine