Attenuated cardiac mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic effects by li-fu formula in hamsters fed with a hypercholesterol diet.
Apoptosis involves in the pathogenesis of various cardiac abnormalities. This study intends to evaluate the effects of Li-Fu formula on cardiac apoptosis induced by hyper-cholesterol diet. Twenty-four male Golden Syrian hamsters were randomly divided into Control, Cholesterol and Li-Fu formula groups. Histopathological analysis, western blotting and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays were performed to measure the effects of Li-Fu formula on left ventricle. Significantly reduced TUNEL-positive cells and mitochondria- dependent apoptosis were observed in the left ventricle of hamsters from Li-Fu formula group compared to the Cholesterol group. Additionally, induced cardiac insulin like growth factor I receptor (IGFIR)-dependent survival pathway was detected in the Li-Fu formula group compared to the Cholesterol group. Besides, minor fibrosis, increased collagen deposition, and myofibril disarray was detected in the Cholesterol group, whereas the reductions of collagen deposition and myofibril disarray were observed in the Li-Fu formula group. This study demonstrated that Li-Fu formula not only reduced the mitochondria-dependent apoptosis and fibrosis, but also enhanced the IGF-I survival pathway in the left ventricle from high cholesterol-fed hamsters. We suggest the protective effects of Li-Fu formula on cardiac apoptosis and therapeutic potentials against cardiovascular disease.
Kuo
Wei-Wen
WW
Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taiwan.
Hsu
Tsai-Ching
TC
Chain
Mei-Haung
MH
Lai
Chao-Hung
CH
Wang
Wen-Hong
WH
Tsai
Fuu-Jen
FJ
Tsai
Chang-Hai
CH
Wu
Chieh-His
CH
Huang
Chih-Yang
CY
Tzang
Bor-Show
BS