Aim To investigate the effect of Icariin ( Ica) on remodeling of left ventricular in SHR and ex-plore the mechanism. Methods Twenty-one male SHR aged 14 weekswere randomly divided into model group(n=7), low-dose of Ica-treated group(20 mg· kg-1 . bid, n =7 ) , high-dose of Ica-treated group ( 40 mg·kg-1. bid,n=7), and WKY as control group(n=7 ) . Low- and high-dose of Ica-treated groups were given Ica from the age of 14 weeks to 26 weeks. The other rats in the model group and control group were given the same amount of double distilled water. Then, the content of hydroxyproline ( Hyp) was measured by ELISA. The morphological changes of the left ventricu-lar were observed by Masson staining. The mRNA and the protein expression of PPARα and PPARγ were ex-amined by real time RT-PCR and Western blot tech-nique respectively. Results Compared with the nor-mal control group, interstitium fibrosis and myofibrilla were lined up in disorder; the content of Hyp was in-creased and the mRNA and protein expression of PPARα and PPARγ were down-regulated in model group(P<0. 01). Compared with the model group,the myocardial cells were arranged less disorderly and the myocardial fibrosis was reduced; the content of Hyp was decreased in low-and high-dose of Ica-treated groups(P<0. 01 or P<0. 05);the mRNA and protein expression of PPARα and PPARγwere up-regulated in low- and high-dose of Ica-treated groups ( P <0. 01 or P<0. 05 ) . Conclusion Ica may attenuate left ven-tricular remodeling in SHR by up-regulating PPARαand PPARγ.

Aim To explore the effect of Osthole (Ost)on the right ventricle remodeling in monocrot-alinetreated rats and the possible mechanism.Meth-ods ♂ SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group,model group,low dose of Ost treatment group (10 mg·kg -1 )and high dose of Ost treatment group (20 mg·kg -1 ).All rats were given a single dose of MCT 50 mg·kg -1 subcutaneously to establish the right ventricle remodeling except normal control group.Then the rats in Ost treatment group were ga-vaged once daily.After 28 days of administration,the right ventricle(RV)and left ventricle plus septum(LV+SEP)were weighed separately.RV hypertrophy in-dex (RVHI)were measured by the relative weight rati-o of RV to LV +SEP.The morphological changes of right ventricle were executed by HE staining.The pro-tein expression of PPARαand PPARγwere detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the control group,RVHI was increased obviously (P <0.05 ), myocardial hypertrophy and structure disorders were observed in model group.The protein expression of PPARαand PPARγwere down-regulated significantly in model group (P <0.05).Compared with the model group,the value of RVHI (P <0.05),myocardial hy-pertrophy,structure disorders were improved signifi-cantly in Ost treatment group.The protein expression of PPARαand PPARγwere up-regulated in Ost treat-ment group (P <0.05).Conclusion Ost can attenu-ate the right ventricle remodeling induced by MCT in rats,which may be related to up-regulating the expres-sion of PPARαand PPARγ.

Aim To investigate the effect of icariin ( ICA) on renal interstitial fibrosis in SHR and explore its mechanism. Methods Fourteen male SHR of 13-week-old were randomly divided into model group( n=7 ) and ICA group ( n=7 ) , and WKY as control group (n=7). One week after adaptive breeding,the rats in the ICA group were given ICA 40 mg·kg-1,ig,bid to 26-week-old. The other rats in the model group and control group were given the same amount of normal sa-line. Then, the morphological changes of the kidney were observed by HE and Masson staining,respective-ly. The contents of plasma aldosterone andⅢcollagen were measured by double antibody sandwich method. The mRNA expressions of TGF-β1 , Smad2 , CTGF and FN were examined by real time RT-PCR. Results Compared with the normal control group, the kidney structures of model group were disordered,the mesang-ial matrix and the tubular interstitial fibrosis were in-creased. The contents of plasma aldosterone and Ⅲcollagen were increased in model group ( P <0. 01 ) . And the mRNA expressions of TGF-β1 , Smad2 , CTGF and FN in kidney tissues were up-regulated in model group( P <0. 01 or P <0. 05 ) . Compared with the model group,the kidney structures were improved and the contents of plasma aldosterone and Ⅲ collagen were reduced, as well as the mRNA expressions of TGF-β1,Smad2,CTGF and FN in kidney tissues were down-regulated(P<0. 01 or P<0. 05)in ICA group. Conclusion ICA may have anti-renal interstitial fi-brosis effect on SHR,and the mechanism might be re-lated to the reduced plasma aldosterone levels and the down-regulated expression of TGF-β1 and Smad2 .

Aims To observe the effect of Icariin( Ica) on apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cell in spontane-ously hypertensive rats( SHR) , and to explore its pos-sible mechanism. Methods 21 male SHR of 14 weeks were randomly divided into model groups, the Ica low and high dose groups (20 or 40 mg·kg-1 ,ig, bid, to 26 weeks ) , 14 week-old male homologous Kyoto rats ( WKY ) as control group, and the number of each group was 7 . WKY group and model group were ad-ministered by gavage with the same volume of double distilled water. The pathological changes were observed by using the HE staining and the apoptosis was detec-ted by TUNEL method in renal tubular epithelial cell, respectively. The mRNA levels of Bok, Bax, Bcl-2 were detected by the real time RT-PCR and the protein expressions of Bcl-2 , Bax and Active caspase-3 were detected by Western blot method in the renal tissue. Results Compared with WKY, renal capsule was nar-row and irregular, and glomerular mesangial matrix was increased with the cell arrangement disorder and the capillary dilation and congestion. Several glomeruli shrank and renal tubular epithelial cell was edema with luminal stenosis in model group. The apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cell was evident and the mRNA levels of Bok and Bax, as well as the protein expressions of Bax and Active caspase-3 were significantly up-regula-ted in model group, while the mRNA Level and protein expression of Bcl-2 significantly down-regulated ( P <0. 05 or P<0. 01). Compared with model group, renal glomerular capsule widened, proliferation of glomerular mesangial matrix was reduced, and cell arrangement disorder and capillary dilation and renal tubular lumen stenosis were improved in Ica group. Renal tubular ep-ithelial cell apoptosis was decreased evidently, and the mRNA level of Bax, Bok and protein expression of Bax were significantly down-regulated in Ica group, and the mRNA level and protein expression of Bcl-2 in Ica-H group were significantly up-regulated while the protein expression of Active caspase-3 significantly down-regu-lated( P <0. 05 or P <0. 01 ) . Conclusion Ica can inhibit the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cell in spontaneously hypertensive rats and its mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of Bok, Bax, and Active caspase-3 , accompanied with the up-regulation of Bcl-2 .