OBJECTIVETo investigate the dynamic changes of cardiomyocyte apoptosis and the role of death receptor apoptotic pathway in a rat model of coronary microembolization (CME).

METHODSAdult rats were randomized to coronary microembolization (CME group, n = 63) or sham-operated group (S group, n = 55). CME model was established by aortic injection of 0.1 ml microspheres (42 microm, 3 x 10(4)/ml) into the left ventricle when the ascending aorta was temporarily clamped.S group received 0.1 ml saline injection and survived rats were randomly examined at 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 hour post CME (n = 10 each). Heart function was evaluated by echocardiography. Myocardium sample was stained with hematoxylin-eosin and hematoxylin-basic fuchsin-picric acid to detect infarct areas. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was detected with TUNEL staining. The expression of caspase-3 and caspase-8 was measured by Western blot analysis.

RESULTSCompared with S group, the left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly decreased and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was significantly increased in CME group (all P < 0.05) except 0 hour CME group. The infarct sizes were similar in 3 hour, 6 hour, 12 hour, and 24 hour CME groups (P > 0.05). The apoptosis index (AI) in CME group were significantly higher at each time point compared to S group (P < 0.05) except 0 hour CME group and peaked at 6 hours. Apoptotic cardiomyocytes were found mainly in the myocardial microinfarcted area and border zones. The relative expression of caspase-3 and caspase-8 in CME group were both significantly increased at 3 hours and peaked at 6 hour post CME (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCardiomyocytes apoptosis was significantly increased after coronary microembolization via activating death receptor apoptotic pathway in this coronary microembolization model.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Death Domain ; metabolism ; Thromboembolism ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Qingikailing and Shengmai injection alone or combined on the acute lung injury (AL) induced by oleic acid in rabbits.

METHODThe rabbits were randomly divided into 11 groups: oleic acid group; control group; treatment groups including low, middle and high dosage groups of Qingkailing and Shengmai injection alone and combined, respectively. ALI model was established by iv oleic acid (0.05 mL x kg(-1)) in these groups, and then iv above drugs respectively,while in control group, the same volume of normal saline was given. The respiratory amplitude and rate were observed, and blood samples were taken from cervical artery for blood-gas analysis before and at 30, 60, 120 min after oleic acid or normal saline administration. At the end of experiment, the concentration of LDH, CAT and MDA in the lung tissue were measured and pathologic changes of lung tissue were observed microscopically.

RESULTCompared with oleic acid group, the respiratory amplitude markedly enhanced (P < 0.05) in the low and high dose groups of Qingkailing and Shengmai injection. PaO2 increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the low dose group of combined Qingkailing and Shengmai injection, PaCO2 decreased markedly (P < 0.05) in the low dose groups of Qingkailing and Shengmai injection alone and combined. The level of MDA significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the each group of Qingkailing and Shengmai injection alone, the level of MDA significantly decreased (P < 0.05) and CAT increased (P < 0.05) in the low dose group of combined Qingkailing with Shengmai injection. The low dose group of combined Qingkailing and Shengmai injection can alleviate the pathological changes induced by oleic acid.

CONCLUSIONThe curative effect of the low dose group of combined Qingkailing with Shengmai injection for the ALI induced by oleic acid was better than Qingkailing and Shengmai injection alone at the same dosage.

Animals ; Carbon Dioxide ; blood ; Catalase ; blood ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Oleic Acid ; Oxygen ; blood ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Respiration ; drug effects ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; blood ; chemically induced ; pathology ; physiopathology