title: Regulation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and apoptotic pathways by betaine attenuates isoproterenol-induced acute myocardial injury in rats.
abstract: The present study was designed to investigate the cardioprotective effects of betaine on acute myocardial ischemia induced experimentally in rats focusing on regulation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and apoptotic pathways as the potential mechanism underlying the drug effect. Male Sprague Dawley rats were treated with betaine (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) orally for 40 days. Acute myocardial ischemic injury was induced in rats by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (85 mg/kg), for two consecutive days. Serum cardiac marker enzyme, histopathological variables and expression of protein levels were analyzed. Oral administration of betaine (200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly reduced the level of cardiac marker enzyme in the serum and prevented left ventricular remodeling. Western blot analysis showed that isoproterenol-induced phosphorylation of STAT3 was maintained or further enhanced by betaine treatment in myocardium. Furthermore, betaine (200 and 400 mg/kg) treatment increased the ventricular expression of Bcl-2 and reduced the level of Bax, therefore causing a significant increase in the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax. The protective role of betaine on myocardial damage was further confirmed by histopathological examination. In summary, our results showed that betaine pretreatment attenuated isoproterenol-induced acute myocardial ischemia via the regulation of STAT3 and apoptotic pathways.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People's Republic of China.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Zheng
authors: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People's Republic of China.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People's Republic of China.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Mai
authors: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People's Republic of China.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Yuan
authors: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People's Republic of China.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, College of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Kaili University, Kaili, Guizhou, People's Republic of China daiguidong@163.com.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Dai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001622:Betaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D019210:Troponin I / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494088:Stat3 protein, rat; D019210:Troponin I; D001622:Betaine; D007545:Isoproterenol
keywords: Betaine; STAT3; apoptosis; isoproterenol; myocardial ischemia