OBJECTIVETo observe the ventricular and vascular remodeling reversal effect of Erigeron breviscapus injection (EBI), a protein kinase C inhibitor, in spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR).

METHODSTwenty-four SHR were divided into 4 groups, they were treated respectively with EBI, Fosinopril, Enalapril and normal saline 10 mg/kg per day by intraperitoneal injection for 8 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), ventricular weight index (VWI) and protein kinase C (PKC) activity in myocardial cells were determined, ultrastructural changes of heart and vessel were observed by polaroscope and transmission electron microscope, and the area and content of myocardial interstitial collagen (MIC) were determined by image analyzer system.

RESULTSThe left ventricular hypertrophy was regressed to certain degree after EBI, Fosinopril and Enalapril treatment, but no significant change in heart rate and right VWI was found. Fosinopril and Enalapril were superior to EBI in lowering SBP and left VWI, and EBI was more obvious in improving myocardial ultrastructure such as hypertrophy and degeneration. All the 3 drugs could improve the MIC and vascular remodeling, the MIC area, content and collagen volume fraction in the EBI group were lowered after treatment, as compared with those in the control group, but comparison between the three groups showed no significant difference. The 3 drugs could reduce the PKC activity in myocardial cell membrane, and EBI showed the effect more significant than that of the other two (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEBI could reverse the myocardial, interstitial and vascular remodeling, improve the rigidness of cardiac muscle, thus, has protective effect on heart.