title: Cardiovascular protection with danshensu in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
abstract: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the cardiovascular protective effects of Danshensu, a water-soluble active component of Danshen, in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). SHR (male, 9 weeks old, n=30) were divided into three groups: 1) saline control (n=10); 2) a Danshensu (10 mg/kg/d, intraperitoneally (i.p.)) treatment group (n=10); and 3) a Valsartan (10 mg/kg/d, intragastrically (i.g.)) treatment group (n=10). Age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats (n=10) were used as normotensive controls. Saline and drug treatments were administered for 6 weeks. When the rats were 15 weeks old, their hearts were excised and arrhythmias were induced by an ex vivo ischemia/reperfusion protocol. The heart weight to body weight index was significantly increased in SHR, and this increase was attenuated with Danshensu treatment (both p<0.05). Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were also decreased with Danshensu treatment, from 145±3 and 103±10 mmHg to 116±7 and 87±2 mmHg in SHR and Danshensu-treated groups, respectively (both p<0.05). The incidences of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation decreased from 100 to 50% and 30% in SHR, respectively, with Danshensu treatment (both p<0.05). Serum nitric oxide content and inducible nitric oxide synthase activity were significantly increased with Danshensu (both p<0.05). In addition, Danshensu increased the K(+) current density and Ca(2+) activated K(+) channel current density of mesenteric vascular smooth muscle cells isolated from SHRs. Together, these results demonstrate that Danshensu imparts cardiovascular protection by modifying vascular responses during the progression of hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Research Division of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. tyq@cpu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Yiqun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Minhui
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chunlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiaoyong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: Shujuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yuemiao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology; D006334:Heart Function Tests / Q000187:drug effects; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007773:Lactates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051036:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000097:blood; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000068756:Valsartan
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D007773:Lactates; D051036:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; D028321:Plant Preparations; D013777:Tetrazoles; C035055:3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid; D000068756:Valsartan; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D014633:Valine