title: The effects and mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1 on myocardial remodeling in an animal model of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent studies haveshown that ginsenoside Rg1, extracted from the dry roots of Panax notoginseng as a traditional Asian medicine, plays an anti-fibrosis role in myocardial remodeling. However, the mechanism still remains unclear. In the present study, we investigate the effect of ginsenoside Rg1on the collagenic remodeling of myocardium in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), and its potential mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  A rat model of CTEPH was established by injecting thrombi through the jugular vein wice in2 weeks. Four weeks later, four groups (Group A: normal rats + normal saline; Group B: normal rats + Rg1; Group C: CTEPH model + normal saline; Group D: CTEPH model + Rg1) were established. Normal saline and Rg1 were administrated by intraperitoneal injection. Ineach group, we measured the hemodynamic parameters, as well as the right ventricle to left ventricle (RV/LV) thickness ratio. Myocardial tissue sections of the RV were stained by hematoxylin-eosin +gentian violet and the morphological characteristics were observed by light microscopy. The matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) -2 and -9 were detected by the western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with Group A and Group B, the right ventricular systolic pressure was significantly increased in Group C and significantly decreased in Group D. Compared with Group A and Group B, the RV/LV thickness ratio of the rats was significantly higher in Group C and Group D. There was significant fibrosis with collagen in Group C compared with Group A and Group B, and less significant changes in Group D were observed compared with those in Group C. The expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 exhibited a significant decrease in Group C and was also significantly decreased in Group D compared withGroup A and Group B. Also, a negative linear relationship was shown between collagen-I and the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our animal study showed that ginsenoside Rg1 positively affects myocardial remodeling and pulmonary hemodynamics in CTEPH. Upregulation of the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 could explain the beneficial effects of ginsenoside Rg1 in CTEPH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chong Qing Medical University, 76 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 40010, China.
authors.forename: Chang-yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Xiu-qing
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Yu-kun
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Dao-xin
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D053723:Panax notoginseng / Q000737:chemistry; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D036145:Ginsenosides; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; C035054:ginsenoside Rg1