[Effects of Qili Qiangxin Capsule on Lung Structural Remodeling in Heart Failure Rats after Myocardial Infarction and Its Mechanism].

Objective To observe the effect of Qili Qiangxin Capsule (QQC) in improving lung struc- tural remodeling on heart failure (HF) rats after myocardial infarction (Ml) and to study its possible mecha- nism. Methods The proximal left anterior descending branch of coronary artery was ligated using a terylene suture to establish acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rat model. After successful AMI modeling rats were ran- domly divided into the model group (intragastrically administered with distilled water at 1 mL/100 g, n =13) and the QQC group (intragastrically administered with QQC at the daily dose of 1 g/kg, n =9). And the sham-opera- tion group (intragastrically administered with distilled water at 1 mL/100 g, n =10) was also set up. After four weeks intervention heart functions of rats were detected using echocardiography. The pathological changes of lung structures were observed by HE and Masson staining method. Protein expressions of lung α-SMA, Collagen I, TGF-ß1, and p-Smad3 of the lung tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Re- sults Compared with the sham-operation group, ejection fraction (EF) and fraction shortening (FS) decreased (P <0. 05) , protein expressions of lung left ventricular internal diastolic diameter (LVIDd), left ventric- ular internal systolic diameter (LVIDs), end diastolic volume (EDV), end systolic volume (ESV), α-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA), Collagen I, tumor growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1), and p-Smad3 increased (P <0.05) in the model group. The muscularized small arteries ratio and collagen area of the lung tissue increased in the model group (P <0. 05). Compared with the model group, EF and FS increased (P <0. 05), protein expressions of LVIDs, ESV, α-SMA, Collagen I, TGF-ß, , and p-Smad3 decreased (P <0.05) in the QQC group. The muscular- ized small arteries ratio and collagen area of the lung tissue decreased in the QQC group (P <0. 05). Conclusion QQC could improve lung structural remodeling degree of HF rats after MI, and its possible mechanism might be achieved by regulating TGF-beta,/Smad3 signaling pathways.

Effect of two Chinese medicinal compounds, blood-activating and water-draining medicine, on tumor necrosis factor α and nuclear factor κ B expressions in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of blood-activating Chinese medicinal compounds and water-draining Chinese medicinal compounds on tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κ B) expressions in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) at the acute stage, and to monitor their therapeutic effect and mechanism of action on inflammation and cerebral edema. METHODS: A rat model of cerebral hemorrhage was achieved by injecting autologous arterial blood into the caudate nucleus. A total of 168 rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: blood-activating medicine group (n=42), water-draining medicine group (n=42), sham operated group (n=42), and the model group (n=42). A series of brain samples were obtained at days 1, 3 and 5 after ICH from rats in all groups. Protein expression levels of TNF-α and NF-κ B were measured by immunohistochemical staining and gene expression levels of TNF-α and NF-κ B were measured by real-time fluorescent PCR. RESULTS: Compared to the sham operated group, protein expression levels of TNF-α and NF-κ B in the model group significantly increased (P<0.01). Protein and gene expressions of TNF-α from the blood-activating medicine group and water-draining medicine group significantly decreased when compared to those in the model group P<0.05). Meanwhile, compared to the model group, the expression of NF-κ B in the blood-activating medicine group significantly decreased (P<0.05), while expression of NF-κ B in the water-draining medicine group did not differ (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Blood-activating Chinese medicinal compounds and water-draining Chinese medicinal compounds can alleviate inflammation of peripheral tissue and cerebral edema. However, the blood-activating Chinese medicinal compounds were more effective than the water-draining Chinese medicinal compounds. The possible effective mechanism may be by means of inhibiting the activation of NF-κ B so as to suppress the transcription of target genes including gene expression of TNF-α.

The Effects of Velvet Antler of Deer on Cardiac Functions of Rats with Heart Failure following Myocardial Infarction.

Velvet antler of deer (VAD) is a commonly-used kidney-Yang supplementing traditional Chinese medication. According to the heart-kidney-related theory, heart Yang originates in kidney Yang and heart failure due to heart Yang deficiency can be treated by tonifying kidney Yang. In this study, we investigated therapeutic effects of VAD on cardiac functions in rats with heart failure following myocardial infarction. Forty-eight male Wistar rats were subjected either to left coronary artery ligation (N = 36) or to sham operation (N = 12). One week after the surgery, rats with heart failure received daily treatment of double-distilled water, captopril or VAD by gavage for consecutively four weeks, while sham-operated animals were given double-distilled water. Ultrasonic echocardiography was adopted to examine cardiac structural and functional parameters and serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentration was measured using radioimmunoassay. We found that VAD partially reversed changes in cardiac functional parameters and serum BNP levels in rats with heart failure. These results provide further evidence for the heart-kidney-related theory and suggest that VAD might be a potentially alternative and complementary medicine for the treatment of heart failure.

[Effects of herbs capable of activating blood circulation or inducing diuresis on the expressions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, nuclear factor-kappaB, and aquaporin-4 in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of herbs capable of activating blood circulation or inducing diuresis on the expressions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), and aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and to study their possible mechanisms. METHODS: The ICH rat model was established by injecting autologous arterial blood into the right caudate nucleus. The 168 male rats were randomly divided into four groups, the sham-operative group, the model group, the blood activating group, and the diuresis inducing group, 42 in each group. Chinese compound decoction (consisting of 0.2 g rhubarb, 0.02 g leech, and 0.3 g notoginseng in each milliliter decoction) was given to rats in the blood activating group by gastrogavage at the dose of 10 mL/kg, once daily. Chinese compound decoction (consisting of 0.2 g poria, 0.2 g water plantain tuber, and 0.2 g acori graninei in each milliliter decoction) was given to rats in the diuresis inducing group by gastrogavage at the dose of 10 mL/kg, once daily. 4.0 mL/kg normal saline was given to rats in the model group and the sham-operative group by gastrogavage, once daily. A series of brain samples were obtained on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th day, respectively. The mRNA and protein expressions of TNFalpha, NF-kappaB p65, and AQP-4 were determined by immunohistochemical staining and Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR respectively. RESULTS: After ICH, TNF-alpha, NF-KB, and AQP-4 protein positive cells in the brain tissue and their protein and mRNA expressions significantly increased in rats of the model group at each time point when compared with the sham-operative group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The gene and protein expressions of TNF-alpha and AQP-4 significantly decreased in the blood activating group and the diuresis inducing group at each time point when compared with the model group (PP < 0.05). The expression of NF-kappaB p65 in the blood activating group obviously decreased when compared with the model group (P < 0.05), but there was no statistical difference in the NF-KB expression when compared with the diuresis inducing group (P > 0.05). Compared with the model group, the water content of the brain tissue decreased to some degree in the blood activating group and the diuresis inducing group at each time point. There was statistical difference between the blood activating group and the diuresis inducing group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Chinese herbs capable of activating blood circulation or inducing diuresis could inhibit the release of TNF-alpha, down-regulate the expression of AQP-4, and alleviate the brain edema around hematoma. But the action strength and the effect links were different.