title: Daming capsule restores endothelial dysfunction induced by high-fat diet.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Daming capsule (DMC), a traditional Chinese formula, has a lipid-modulating action with reduced adverse side effects as compared with other lipid lowering compounds. Since endothelial dysfunction often accompanies the hyperlipidemic state, we hypothesize that DMC might restore endothelial dysfunction produced by a high-fat (HF) diet. Importantly, we also investigate possible mechanisms involved in mediating the effects of DMC on vascular reactivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were divided into four groups: control, HF diet, HF mixed DMC diet, HF mixed atorvastatin (ATV) diet. After 30 days, the thoracic cavity was exposed to remove the thoracic aorta for (i) histological examination; (ii) measurement of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) by western blot; and (iii) tension study of thoracic aortic ring.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HF diet induced significant attenuation in the contraction and relaxation of rat aortic rings. Treatment with DMC significantly improved the relaxation of the aortic rings as compared with those from HF rats (P < 0.05), which was abolished by a nonspecific NOS inhibitor L-NAME. Moreover DMC significantly restored the decrease in eNOS expression induced by HF diet. Similar results were found in histopathologic changes. DMC failed to restore the loss of vasocontraction of aorta explained by an impairment of ATP-sensitive K+ channels (KATP) on the structure and/or function. DMC exerted the same protective effect as ATV, a positive control drug, on vascular injury produced by HF diet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DMC partially protects the aorta from HF-induced endothelial dysfunction via upregulation of the expression of eNOS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, the State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine and Pharmaceutics, Harbin, Peoples' Republic of China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Huifang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Ruibo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ban
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Baofeng
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D015221:Potassium Channels; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester