title: [Effects of shenqi compound on the mRNA expression of AT1R in the aorta of GK rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effects of Shenqi Compound (SQC) on the mRNA expression of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) in the aorta of Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally 67 GK rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the GK group (n =18), the model group (n =16), the atorvastatin group (n =17), and the SQC group (n =16). Another a normal control group was set up (n =18). The diabetic macrovascular disease model was prepared by adding L-NAME (at the daily dose of 0.10 mg/mL) in drinking water for GK rats. GK rats, except those in the normal control group were fed with high fat diet. Atorvastatin (at the daily dose of 1.60 mg/kg) and SQC (at the daily dose of 1.44 g/kg) were respectively administered by gastrogavage, once daily for 35 successive days. The blood glucose was determined by glucose oxidase method once per week. After 5-week medication, the contents of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) were determined by ELISA. The serum concentrations of angiotensin I (Ang II) were determined by RIA. The mRNA expression of AT1R in the aorta was determined by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The blood glucose level was obviously lower in both the atorvastatin group and the SQC group after 4 weeks of medication (P <0.05). Besides, it was significantly lower in the SQC group than in the model group by the end of the 4th week (P <0.05). The concentrations of TG, TC and serum Ang II , and the mRNA expression of AT1R in the aorta were significantly higher in the model group than in the normal control group (P <0.01). After 5-week medication, the concentrations of TG, TC and serum Ang I , and the mRNA expression of AT1 R in the aorta were significantly lower in the atorvastatin group and the SQC group than in the model group (P <0.01, P <0.05). The mRNA expression of AT1R was significantly higher in the SQC group than in the atorvastatin group (P <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SQC could significantly reduce the levels of blood glucose, TG, TC, down-regulate the mRNA expression of AT1R in the aorta, and decrease the expressions of serum Ang II of GK rats with diabetic macrovascular disease. AT1 R might be one of effective targets of SQC in treating diabetic macrovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Medicine, Liuzhou Municipal Liutie Central Hospital, Guangxi 545007, China.
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Chun-guang
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: C544067:Agtr1a protein, rat; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D014280:Triglycerides; C585913:shenqi; D000804:Angiotensin II; D002784:Cholesterol