[Effect of puerarin in myocardial protection in rats with acute and chronic alcoholism].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the protective effect of puerarin on the myocardium of rats with acute and chronic alcoholism.


METHODS
In acute alcoholism experiment, normal male SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, alcoholism group and puerarin group (n=8), and high- and low-dose puerarin was administered. In chronic alcoholism experiment, increasing puerarin doses were given. Serum and myocardial levels of spartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) were determined using enzymatic methed, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase, and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase in the myocardium were assayed with colorimetric method. HE staining was used to observe the microscopic changes of the myocardium.


RESULTS
Compared with alcoholism group, puerarin-treated groups showed significantly lowered myocardial contents of MDA, CPK and AST and serum levels of AST and CPK (P<0.05, P<0.01) and increased myocardial SOD (P<0.05, P<0.01), Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase activity (P<0.05, P<0.01), but Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase was similar between the two groups (P>0.05). HE staining of the myocardium showed cell swelling and obscure cell boundaries in alcoholism group, especially in chronic alcoholism group. The myocardial structure in puerarin group remained clear and regular.


CONCLUSIONS
Puerarin can protect from myocardial injuries induced by acute and chronic alcoholism in rats.
Department of Physiology, Dezhou University, Dezhou, China. shuqincui@126.com
Shu-qin
SQ
Cui
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000818:Animals; D002310:Cardiomyopathy, Alcoholic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D007529:Isoflavones; D000431:Ethanol; C033607:puerarin