OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of Shenfu (Chinese traditional medicine) injections on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rabbits.

METHODSThirty rabbits were divided into three groups (n = 10) randomly: control group, myocardial ischemia/ reperfusion group (MI/RI) and Shenfu injections extract group, three groups of rabbits were fed respectively with standard diet. After giving medicine 10 minutes, the myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury animal model was established by ligaturing rabbits left ventricutar branch of coronary artery, and observing the changes of enzyme/hemodynamics during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion.

RESULTSIn model group myocardial function of shrink went down, the amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) was higher, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathine peroxidease (GSH-Px), Na(+) -K(+) -ATP and Ca(2+) -ATP were lower, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase(CK) were released compared with those in model group. Shenfu injections could recover left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and +/- dp/dt(max), decrease left ventricular end-diastolic pressure(LVEDP), inhibit the increasing of MDA, LDH and CK, and increase the activaty of SOD, GSH-PX, Na(+) -K(+) -ATP and Ca(2+) -ATP.

CONCLUSIONShenfu injections can obviously protect myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.