[Effects of Panax notoginseng saponins on rat cardiomyocytes apoptosis induced by angiotengin II in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To study the protective effects of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced rat cardiomyocyte apoptosis in vitro and the probable mechanism.


METHODS
Cultured cardiomyocytes from neonatal rats were stimulated with Ang II. Cell viability was measured by MTT. Apoptosis was evaluated using Acridine Orange (AO) fluorescent dye staining and flow cytometry; Fluo-3 AM was used to test the change of intracellular free calcium.


RESULTS
It was found that incubating with Ang II (10(-7) mol x L(-1)) for 48 h increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis, PNS (25, 100 mg x mL(-1)) increased myocyte viability. PNS (50 mg x mL(-1)) significantly decreased this Ang II-induced rat cardiomyocyte apoptosis (P < 0.05) and decreased fluorescent intensity of intracellular calcium.


CONCLUSIONS
PNS has a significant effect on Ang II-induced rat cardiomyocytes apoptosis in vitro by alleviating intracellular calcium overload.
Chen
Yan-jing
YJ
Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
Li
Jian-dong
JD
Huang
Qi-fu
QF
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D036145:Ginsenosides; D000804:Angiotensin II; D002118:Calcium