OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Propyl Gallate (PrG) on serum inflammatory factors and protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in ischemic myocardium of rats with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODSAMI model was induced by ligating the left anterior descending (LAD) branch of coronary artery in Wistar rats, and the perfect modeling was certified with ST segment elevation by standard limb lead II of electrocardiogram. Rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: Group A of normal rats, Group B of rats through sham operation, Group C of AMI model rats, Group D of model rats treated with high dose PrG (80 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), via peritoneal injection), Group E of model rats treated with low dose PrG (40 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), via peritoneal injection), and Group F of model rats treated with aspirin (25 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), via gastrogavage), all the treatments were given in succession for 7 days. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to determine serum contents of interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), immunohistochemistry was used to determine the level of COX-2 and ICAM-1 protein expression in myocardium.

RESULTSCompared with Group B, the serum level of TNF-alpha increased significantly, but not the level of IL-1beta in Group C. Besides, the COX-2 and ICAM-1 protein expressions in ischemic myocardium increased in Group C. All the above-mentioned changes were reversed to certain extent in Group E after treatment.

CONCLUSIONSPrG (40 mg x kg(-1) d(-1)) could decrease the serum level of inflammatory factor TNF-alpha, and slightly inhibit COX-2 and ICAM-1 protein expression in ischemic myocardium of AMI rats.