AIM: To compare the effects of Yuxingcao(Herba houttuyniae),Paojiang(Radix aconiti lateralis praeparata) and Fuzi(Rhizoma Zingiberis recens(blastfried)) on ventricular remodeling induced by high pressure in rats. METHODS: Ventricular remodeling model was induced by constriction of abdominal aorta in rats.After 1 week,the model rats were divided randomly into 5 groups,such as model control,captopril,Yuxingcao,Paojiang and Fuzi.In addition,a sham-operated group was designed.The rats were given per oral captopril,Yuxingcao,Paojiang and Fuzi respectively for consecutive 3 weeks.Rats in sham-operated group and model control group were treated with distilled water.The blood pressure was measured.The ratio of LVW/BW,HW/BW was calculated as an index indicating the grade of ventricular hypertrophy.The contents of AngⅡ,ET in heart tissue and blood level of aldosterone(ALD) were determined by radio-immunoassay.The myocardium collagen volume fraction(CVF),perivascular circumferential area(PVCA) and the content of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen were determined by histological assay using the picric acid/sirius red stain.The expression of protein kinase C(PKC) was determined by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: Yuxingcao could lower the blood pressure and the ratio of LVW/BW,HW/BW;reduce the level of AngⅡ,ET in myocardium and ALD in blood serum,decrease myocardium CVF,PVCA and the content of type Ⅰ,Ⅲ collagen,and inhibit the expression of PKC.Paojiang did not show obvious effects mentioned above,neither did Fuzi,except that it decreased the level of AngⅡ in myocardium. CONCLUSION: Yuxingcao,the herb with cool nature,can attenuate the ventricular remodeling,and inhibit the over-activity of neuroendocrine factor release.Paojiang and Fuzi,the herbs with hot nature,fail to show that.

Angiotensin (1-7) is an important biologically active substance of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.It has vasodilatory,antiproliferative and antithrombotic effects.The functions of Ang (1-7) are often opposite to Ang Ⅱ. Ang (1-7) can be formed from Ang Ⅰ or Ang Ⅱ .Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 is the rate-limiting enzyme of Ang(1-7).The biological effects of Ang (1-7) are mainly mediated by its receptor, the G-protein-coupled receptor Mas.

AIM: To explore the effects and mechanisms of classic prescription Jiajian Yun? Decoction(JJYND) on ventricular remodeling. METHODS: Two kinds of ventricular remodeling model were induced by injecting L-thyroxine intraperitoneally or banding abdominal aorta in rats.The effects of JJYND on heart index(HI) and concentrations of neuroendocrine factors such as serum nitric oxide(NO),myocardium angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ),endothelin-1(ET-1),activities of glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px),superoxide dismutase(SOD),concentration of myocardium hydroxyproline(Hyp),cross section area of cardiomyocyte were determined. RESULTS: JJYND could significantly reduce the heart index,cardiomyocyte cross section area,elevate serum NO concentration,restrain myocardium Ang Ⅱ,ET-1,Hyp concentrations and improve myocardium GSH-Px、SOD activities. CONCLUSION: Prescription JJYND has good effects on attenuating ventricular remodeling.

During ischemia, the intracellular acidosis stimulates the Na +/H + exchanger. The increase in intracellular sodium secondary to increased Na +/H + exchange is reversed through exchange for calcium, resulting in calcium overload of the cells and producing cell injury and necrosis. NHE1 inhibitors exert a protective effect on myocardium subject to ischemia and reperfusion via reduction of Na +/H + exchange, attenuation of intracellular calcium accumulation and other mechanisms.

Na +/H + exchanger 1 (NHE1) is a major contributor to ischemic and reperfusion injury. It is emerging that NHE 1 also contributes to myocardial hypertrophy and heart failure due to chronic maladaptive stimulation. It appears that NHE 1 may represent a common downstream mediator for various hypertrophic factor, such as angiotensinⅡ,beta (1) and alpha (1) adrenergic receptor activation. NHE 1 inhibition may be a effective new therapeutic approach for prevention and treatment of heart failure.-

AIM: To investigate the effect of glycyrrhizin(GZ) and glycyrrhefinic acid(GA) on reducing the toxicity of Radix Aconiti Laterlis(RAL) and its mechanisms of action. METHODS: Radix Aconiti Laterlis(RAL),RAL with Radix Glycyrrhizae(RG),RAL with GZ,RAL with GA were boiled for 30 min,respectively.HPLC was used to measure the concentrations of aconitine and hypaconitine in the different decoctions.Meanwhile,the acute toxicity of the above decoctions was determined by oral and intraperitoneal administration in mice respectively. RESULTS: By oral administration,the acute toxicity of the decoctions of RG with RAL and GE with RAL was obviously lower than that of RAL.The acute toxicity of the decoction of GA with RAL was slightly reduced when compared with that of RAL.By intraperitoneal administration,the acute toxicity of GA with RAL was obviously higher than that of RAL.RG significantly restrained the dissolution of alkalines contained in RAL into the decoction.But GA and GZ increased the dissolution of the alkalines. CONCLUSION: By oral administration,RG could reduce the acute toxieity of RAL.Restraint on the dissolution of the toxic alkalines contained in RAL into the decoction may be in part the reasons.But GA and GZ are not the effective components reducing the dissolution of the toxic alkalines.They may combine with the toxic alkalines,postpone the absorption of the combined compounds through gastrointestinal tract,and reduce the acute toxicity of RAL by oral administration.

AIM: To observe the effect of Shuanghuang Shengbai Granule (Radix astragli, Rhizoma polygonati, Fructus ligustri lucidi, Radix trichosanthis, Rhizoma drynariae, etc) (SHSB) on the proliferation of bone marrow cells and the growth of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor(GM-CSF) in leukopenia model mice, and to investigate the related mechanism. METHODS: Mouse leukopenia models were made by radiation, the proliferation of bone marrow cells was determined by MTT chromatoptometry, the content of GM-CSF in serum was measured by double antibody sandwich ELISA, and the protein expression of GM-CSF in cultured spleen cells was measured by SP immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: SHSB could promote the proliferation of bone marrow cells; increase the content of GM-CSF in serum and enhance the protein expression of GM-CSF in spleen cells. CONCLUSION: SHSB Granule has the improvement in enhancing the proliferation of bone marrow cells in leucopenia model mice, increasing the content of GM-CSF in serum and the protein expression of GM-CSF in spleen cells.

Objective To evaluate the effects of aqueous extract from Semen Lepidii seu Descurainiae(SLD) on myocardial hypertrophy induced by isoprenaline(ISO) and L-thyroxine(L-Thy) in experimental mice and rats.Methods The myocardial hypertrophy models of mice were prepared by daily sc ISO 2 mg/kg for 7 d and of rats by daily ip L-Thy 0.3 mg/kg for 10 d.The mice were given aqueous extract from SLD 6 and 12 g/kg or Metoprolol 0.06 g/kg by ig administration once a day for 7 d,then the changes of cardiac indexes,plasma concentration of cAMP,and angiontensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ) content in myocardium were measured.The rats were given the aqueous extract from SLD 4 and 8 g/kg or Captopril 0.02 g/kg once a day for 10 d,then the changes of cardiac indexes,plasma concentration of ALD,AngⅡ content in left ventricle,and hydroxproline(Hyp) level were measured.Results Compared with the normal mice,cardiac indexs,plasma concentration of cAMP,and Ang Ⅱ content were remarkably increased in the model group(P