title: [Effect of astragalus injection on left ventricular remodeling and apoptotic gene caspase-3 in rats after myocardial infarction].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of Astragalus injection (AI) on left ventricular remodeling and the expression of apoptotic gene caspase-3 in rats after myocardial infarction (MI).
  
  
  METHODS
  The MI model was established. The experimental animals were divided into 4 groups, Group I (the sham-operated group), Group II (the sham-operated plus AI group), Group III (the model group), Group IV (the model plus AI group). Animals in the II and IV group were intraperitoneally injected with 2 ml AI once a day after operation, while animals in the I and III group were treated with normal saline of equal volume. After treated for 4 weeks successively, the structural change of left ventricle and the level of oxyproline in myocardium were observed, and expression of caspase-3 was determined by immunohistochemical method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As compared with Group Ill, the ultrastructure of myocardium and indexes of left ventricular remodeling were improved, the myocardial content of oxyproline decreased (P < 0.05), the caspase-3 positive cells reduced and caspase-3 mRNA expression significantly down-regulated (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AI can improve left ventricular remodeling, inhibit apoptosis by down-regulate the expression of apoptotic gene caspase-3 in rats after MI.
authors.affiliation: The Second Hospital Affiliated to Harbin Medical University, Harbin. malan1963@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Zhen-zhong
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Guan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D027885:Astragalus propinquus; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases