[Role of alkaloid sinomenine in chronic rejection in the rat heart transplantation model].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the possible role of alkaloid sinomenine (SIN) on chronic rejection in rat heart transplantation model.


METHODS
After a brief course of cyclosporine A (CsA), DA recipients of PVG hearts were treated with placebo, SIN, CsA, or a combination of both drugs. Grafts were analyzed morphometrically and by immuno-histochemistry. Expressions of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and endothelin 1 (ET-1) were assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Cardiac grafts of SIN-treated rats showed a mild degree of vasculopathy compared with untreated rats or CsA-treated recipients. Degree of vasculopathy was significantly reduced in rats treated with combined SIN and CsA than rats receiving either drug alone. Treatment with SIN alone did not affect gene expressions of bFGF, VEGF, and ET-1 while expressions of bFGF, VEGF, and ET-1 were significantly reduced by combined treatment with SIN and CsA.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrated a potential value of SIN, in combination with low-dose CsA to attenuate the vasculopathy in this rat model of chronic cardiac allograft rejection.
Xu
Guang-quan
GQ
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150086, China. Email: hydxgq@163.com.
Jin
Xiang-yuan
XY
Yang
Guo-cai
GC
Zhang
Ce
C
Liu
Da-zhong
DZ
Xia
Qiu-ming
QM
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006085:Graft Survival; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D008297:Male; D009019:Morphinans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D051381:Rats
D009019:Morphinans; C009271:sinomenine