[Study on protective effect of alcohol extract of Potentilla Anserinea against acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial apoptosis in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the protective effect of alcohol extract of Potentilla anserina against myocardial apoptosis induced by acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion by arteria coronaria ligation and the effect on the expressions of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 in myocardial apoptosis signal pathway.


METHODS
Male SD rats were randomly divided into the sham-operated group, the model group, the diltiazem group (30 mg x kg(-1)) and P. anserine alcohol extract intervention groups (0.9, 1.8, 3.6 g x kg(-1)). Rat acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion model was established by ligating left anterior descending. Apoptosis of myocardial cells were detected by TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling assay). The expressions of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 mRNA were assayed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Semi-quantitative analysis was made for the expressions of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
According to TUNEL results, after I/R injury-induced myocardial apoptosis, the apoptotic index (AI) of model group was (31.5 +/- 3.6)%. All P. anserine alcohol extract intervention groups showed obvious inhibition of ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial apoptosis. In the model group, myocardial apoptosis caused increased expression of Caspase-3, Caspase-9 mRNA and proteins. After the administration of P. anserine alcohol extract, 1.8, 3.6 g x kg(-1) dose groups showed notable decrease in Caspase-9 mRNA (P < 0.05), while the 0.9 g x kg(-1) dose group showed no significant difference with the model group. Alcohol extract of P. anserina in all dosages showed inhibitory effect on the expression of Caspase-3 mRNA in myocardial cells compared with model group (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed that administration of all dosages of alcohol extract of P. anserina could significantly reduce Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 protein expressions after I/R injury (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The administration with alcohol extract of P. anserina can protect the myocardial tissue from apoptosis after acute myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats and inhibit the expressions of Caspase-9 and Caspase-3 mRNA and proteins.
Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Logistics University of CAPF, Tianjin 300162, China. qinxj68@hotmail.com
Xiaojing
X
Qin
Qi
Q
Lv
Xinning
X
Zhang
Fuquan
F
Chen
Lingzhi
L
Li
Yongliang
Y
Zhang
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D031987:Potentilla; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D010936:Plant Extracts; D000431:Ethanol; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9