[Collagen protein expressions in ischemic myocardium of rats with acute myocardial infarction and effects of qi-tonifying, yin-tonifying and blood-activating herbs and detoxifying and blood-activating herbs].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate collagen protein expressions in ischemic myocardium of rats with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the effects of qi-tonifying, yin-tonifying and blood-activating herbs and detoxifying and blood-activating herbs.

METHODS

AMI model of Wistar rat was established by ligating left anterior descending coronary artery. The model rats were randomly divided into untreated group, perindopril group (0.36 mg/kg), Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue (YQYYHX) group (Shengmai Capsule 0.24 g/kg and Compound Chuanxiong Capsule 0.40 g/kg), and Jiedu Huoxue (JDHX) group (Compound Chuanxiong Capsule 0.40 g/kg and berberine 0.16 g/kg), with 10 rats in each group. The latter three groups were treated with corresponding drugs by gastric gavage once a day for 4 weeks after modeling. Sham-operated (puncture without ligation) group and normal control group with 10 rats in each group were given normal saline by gastric gavage. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was measured, and pathologic changes in myocardium were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining 4 weeks later. Contents of procollagen type III and collagen type IV in serum were measured by radioimmunoassay, and expressions of collagen types I and III in ischemic myocardium were measured by immunohistochemical methods.

RESULTS

Compared with rats in the sham-operated group, weight of left ventricle and LVMI of rats in the model group increased significantly; content of procollagen type III in serum increased; contents of collagen types I and III in ischemic myocardium increased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with rats in the untreated group, LVMI and content of procollagen type III in serum of rats treated with herbs decreased significantly, and expressions of collagen types I and III in ischemic myocardium were inhibited (P<0.05, P<0.01). The effect of detoxifying and blood-activating herbs on collagen type III in ischemic myocardium is better than perindopril.

CONCLUSION

Both qi-tonifying, yin-tonifying and blood-activating herbs and detoxifying and blood-activating herbs have beneficial effects on rats with AMI in decreasing LVMI and procollagen type III content, and inhibiting expressions of collagen types I and III in ischemic myocardium, thus protecting ischemic myocardium after AMI. It may explain the machanism of Chinese herbal medicine inhibiting ventricular remodeling after AMI.