[Effects of Xuesaitong Soft Capsule on hemodynamics and cardiocyte apoptosis of rats after myocardial infarction].

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effects of Xuesaitong Soft Capsule, a compound traditional Chinese medicine, on hemodynamics and cardiocyte apoptosis of rats after myocardial infarction (MI) in different time and areas, and to explore its mechanism in inhibiting cardiac ventricle reconstitution and muscle remodeling.

METHODS

Except rats in sham-operated group, MI was induced by ligaturing the left coronary artery main stem of rats' hearts. Then, rats were divided into untreated group and Xuesaitong group. Ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS), hemodynamics, ratio of heart weight to body weight (HW/BW ratio), and pathological changes of cardiac tissue were analyzed to assess cardiac function and myocardial hypertrophy status 48 hours and 5 weeks after MI. Cardiocyte apoptosis in different areas was detected by fluorescently labeled TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) and DNA ladder method.

RESULTS

Comparing with the untreated group, EF and FS in the Xuesaitong group were significantly increased, and the apoptosis index was significantly decreased (P<0.01); 48 hours after MI, left ventricular systolic pressure and maximum rate of left ventricular pressure rise were obviously increased, while left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and heart weight to body weight ratio were decreased as compared with the untreated group (P<0.01); LVEDP in the Xuesaitong group was decreased, while maximum rate of left ventricular pressure rise and fall were increased as compared with the untreated group 5 weeks after MI (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Xuesaitong can efficiently treat reconstitution and remodeling of cardiac ventricle of rats after myocardial infarction by improving the heart function and inhibiting the cardiocyte apoptosis.