title: Effects of Tongxinluo on myocardial fibrosis in diabetic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to explore the effect of Tongxinluo on myocardial fibrosis in diabetic rats and its possible mechanism of action.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diabetic rat models were established and then divided into three groups: control, diabetes, and Tongxinluo groups. Heart function and myocardial interstitial collagen volume fraction were investigated, and the protein and mRNA expression levels of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), Smad3, and Smad7 were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Heart function was clearly abnormal in the diabetes group compared with that in the control group, and the collagen volume fraction and mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1 and Smad3 were higher. However, the protein and mRNA expression levels of Smad7 were lower. In the Tongxinluo group, it was observed that these indicators were improved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tongxinluo was effective for the prevention and treatment of myocardial fibrosis in diabetic rats. It probably mediates the expressions of TGF-β1, Smad3, and Smad7 in rat cardiomyocytes to reduce the occurrence of myocardial fibrosis in diabetic rats.
authors.affiliation: Medical Examination Center of Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China; Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Xiaomei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Liaoning Medical University, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Changzheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Liaoning Medical University, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Tianchi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Yaxue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Yangyi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Medical Examination Center of Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China. Electronic address: zhimianzhang@126.com.
authors.forename: Zhimian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005355:Fibrosis; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000235:genetics; D051906:Smad7 Protein / Q000235:genetics; D013311:Streptozocin; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D051900:Smad3 Protein; C497787:Smad3 protein, rat; D051906:Smad7 Protein; C497808:Smad7 protein, rat; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C513941:tongxinluo; D013311:Streptozocin
keywords: Smad(3); Smad(7); Tongxinluo; diabetic myocardial fibrosis; transforming growth factor beta 1