Effects of benazepril on cardiac fibrosis in STZ-induced diabetic rats.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was designed to explore the roles of MMP-2/TIMP-2 in cardiac fibrosis and to study the effects of benazepril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) on cardiac remodelling in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats.


RESULTS
Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: a normal control group (NC), a diabetes mellitus-untreated group (DM) and a diabetes mellitus benazepril-treated group (DB). Diabetes mellitus was induced in the DM and DB groups by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). DB rats were treated with benazepril 10 mg/kg/day for 12 weeks by remedial perfusing of the stomach. In the DM group, compared with the NC group, the gene and protein expression of MMP-2 decreased while the TIMP-2 gene and protein expression increased in heart tissues, along with a markedly cardiac collagen deposition.All the above changes were attenuated by benazepril treatment in the DB group.


CONCLUSIONS
The imbalance of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 expressions in heart tissues might participate in interstitial fibrosis in diabetic myocardiopathy. Benazepril may ameliorate cardiac fibrosis partly by regulating the MMP-2/TIMP-2 system.
Li
Qian
Q
Dept. of Pediatrics, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China.
Wang
Yi
Y
Sun
Shu-zhen
SZ
Tian
Yong-jie
YJ
Liu
Ming-hua
MH
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D009929:Organ Size; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013311:Streptozocin; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000378:metabolism
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D001552:Benzazepines; D001786:Blood Glucose; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D013311:Streptozocin; D003094:Collagen; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; C044946:benazepril