[The effects of Guanxinshutong on protection of left ventricular function after acute myocardial infarction in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of Guanxinshutong capsule (GXST) on protection of left ventricular (LV) function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in rats.


METHODS
Twenty-eight male Sprague Dawley rats were randomized to Model group, Drug group and Sham-operated group, with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) achieved by ligating coronary artery in Model and Drug groups. From one week before surgery to four weeks after surgery, GXST for Drug group (1.5 g/kg, 2 times/day) or saline for Model and Sham-operated groups was administered via direct gastric gavage. After four weeks of treatment following surgery, measurement of LV function, pathohistological observation and analysis were performed.


RESULTS
Compared with rats in the Model group, LV systolic pressure (LVSP) [(97.7 ± 9.0) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) vs (85.9 ± 9.4) mm Hg], the maximum rising rate of LV pressure (+dp/dtmax) [(4810.2 ± 595.0) mm Hg/s vs (3786.2 ± 723.0) mm Hg/s] and the maximum dropping rate of LV pressure (-dp/dtmax) [(3781.6 ± 573.6) mm Hg/s vs (2774.4 ± 633.5)mm Hg/s] in the Drug group were significantly increased, while LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) [(10.3 ± 0.7) mm Hg vs (12.7 ± 2.4) mm Hg] in the Drug group was significantly decreased (all P < 0.05). Myocardial pathohistological morphology was improved in the Drug group with fibrosis alleviated [(5.13 ± 1.37)% vs (7.27 ± 1.01)%] and infarct size reduced [(20.14 ± 8.49)% vs (31.90 ± 4.98)%]. Apoptosis index (AI) was decreased [(14.05 ± 4.04)% vs (20.87 ± 6.03)%] and vessel density was significantly increased by 1.48-fold in the Drug group (all P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
GXST is effective in protecting LV function after AMI in rats, which may be affect through increasing vessel density of infarction area, improving myocardial pathohistological morphology, alleviating fibrosis, reducing infarct size and decreasing AI.
Department of Cardiology, Shenyang Northern Hospital, Shenyang 110016, China.
Zhuo
Z
Liang
Tian-ming
TM
Yao
Yu
Y
Huo
Ya-ling
YL
Han
D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects*; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal