Effect of astragalus injection on left ventricular remodeling and apoptotic gene caspase-3 in rats after myocardial infarction.
- Author:
	        		
		        		
		        		
			        		Lan MA
			        		
			        		
			        		
			        			1
			        			
			        		
			        		
			        		
			        		
			        		;
		        		
		        		
		        		
			        		Zhen-zhong GUAN
			        		
			        		
		        		
		        		
		        		
			        		
			        		Author Information
			        		
 - Publication Type:Journal Article
 - MeSH: Animals; Astragalus membranaceus; Caspase 3; Caspases; biosynthesis; genetics; Down-Regulation; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; pharmacology; Injections; Male; Myocardial Infarction; metabolism; pathology; physiopathology; Myocardium; ultrastructure; RNA, Messenger; biosynthesis; genetics; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Ventricular Remodeling; drug effects
 - From: Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine 2005;25(7):646-649
 - CountryChina
 - Language:Chinese
 - 
		        	Abstract:
			       	
			       		
				        
				        	
OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Astragalus injection (AI) on left ventricular remodeling and the expression of apoptotic gene caspase-3 in rats after myocardial infarction (MI).
METHODSThe MI model was established. The experimental animals were divided into 4 groups, Group I (the sham-operated group), Group II (the sham-operated plus AI group), Group III (the model group), Group IV (the model plus AI group). Animals in the II and IV group were intraperitoneally injected with 2 ml AI once a day after operation, while animals in the I and III group were treated with normal saline of equal volume. After treated for 4 weeks successively, the structural change of left ventricle and the level of oxyproline in myocardium were observed, and expression of caspase-3 was determined by immunohistochemical method.
RESULTSAs compared with Group Ill, the ultrastructure of myocardium and indexes of left ventricular remodeling were improved, the myocardial content of oxyproline decreased (P < 0.05), the caspase-3 positive cells reduced and caspase-3 mRNA expression significantly down-regulated (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONAI can improve left ventricular remodeling, inhibit apoptosis by down-regulate the expression of apoptotic gene caspase-3 in rats after MI.
 
            