[Effect of Zishen Huoxue Recipe on Pathomorphology in Coronary Heart Disease Rats with Shen Deficiency Blood Stasis Syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Zishen Huoxue Recipe (ZHR) on pathomorphology in coronary heart disease (CHD) rats with Shen deficiency blood stasis syndrome (SDBSS). METHODS: Totally 60 healthy Wistar rats were divided into the blank control group, the model group, high, middle, and low dose ZHR groups according to random digit table, 12 in each group. Myocardial ischemia SDBSS rat model was prepared by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery and injecting hydrocortisone. ZHR physic liquor was administered to rats in high, middle, and low dose ZHR groups at the daily dose of 21.6, 10.8, 5.4 g/kg by gastrogavage for 7 successive days, equal volume of pure water was administered to rats in the blank control group and the model group by gastrogavage for 7 successive days. Rat heart was collected for pathomorphological observation under light microscope. RESULTS: In the model group the heart muscle fiber was swollen and deformed with widened space, loose and dropsy tissues. Blood vessels in myocardial mesenchymal were dilated, infiltrated with more inflammatory cells. Myocardial cells were markedly swollen, degenerated, or necrotic, with caryolysis or disappearance of partial nuclear. A large amount of collagen fibrous tissue became hyperplasia. Endocardial blood vessels were swollen and degenerated with infiltration of few inflammatory cells. Epicardium tissue and structure were destroyed and got hyperplasia. Swollen, degenerated, or necrotic vessels could be seen, with infiltration of more inflammatory cells and collagen deposition. Pathomorphological injuries were alleviated in each ZHR group. The higher ZHR concentration, the milder the injury degree of myocardial tissue, the more limited range of damage. CONCLUSION: ZHR could attenuate pathomorphological injuries of myocardial ischemia rats with SDBSS and regulate myocardial function, thus improving myocardial ischemia in CHD rats with SDBSS.

Effects of Chinese herbal medicine serum on the apoptosis of sinoatrial node cells induced by simulated ischemia-reperfusion.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Chinese herbal medicine Kangxin Fumai Granule ((see text) Granule for heart diseases) serum on the primary cultured sinoatrial node (SAN) cell apoptosis induced by simulated ischemia-reperfusion (IR). METHODS: The SAN cells removed from SAN tissue of neonatal Wistar rats were cultured and purified with differential attachment and 5'-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) treatment. Simulated IR model was adopted. The obtained cells were morphologically observed with inverted microscopy. By using the method of serum pharmacology, the cell apoptosis was measured with TUNEL staining qualitatively and with flow cytometry quantitatively. RESULTS: Three kinds of cells were observed in the cultured SAN cells: spindle, triangle and irregular. The spindle cells comprised the greatest proportion. The SAN cells in the model group showed moderate positive brown staining in the nucleus, and the apoptosis rate increased significantly compared to that in the control group (P < 0.01). While the SAN cells in the Kangxin Fumai Granule high-dose group did not demonstrated positive staining in the nucleus, and the apoptosis rate decreased significantly compared to that in the model group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Of the cells cultured from SAN, the spindle cells were pacemaker cells of SAN in rats. Blockade and/or inhibition of the SAN cell apoptosis might be one of the important mechanisms of Kangxin Fumai Granule in preventing and treating sinoatrial injury induced by simulated IR.

[Effect of kangxin fulu recipe on electrophysiological functions of the sinoatrial node in rabbits with sick sinus syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Kangxin Fulu Recipe (KFR) on electrophysiological functions of the sinoatrial node in rabbits with sick sinus syndrome (SSS). METHODS: Sixty big ears white rabbits were randomly divided into six groups, i.e., the normal group, the model group, the atropine group, the high dose KFR group, the middle dose KFR group, and the low dose KFR group, ten in each group. SSS model was established by injecting formaldehyde to the sinoatrial node except those in the normal group. Changes in AA interval, the sinoatrial conduction time (SACT), the sinus node recovery time (SNRT), and the corrected sinus node recovery time (CSNRT) were measured before and after modeling, seven days before and after gastrogavage. RESULTS: (1) The AA interval and SACT could be significantly shortened in the high dose KFR group, the middle-dose KFR group, and the atropine group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Better effects were obtained in the former two groups (P<0.05). (2) SNRT and CSNRT could be shortened in the high dose KFR group and the atropine group, with no statistical difference between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The electrophysiological mechanism of KFR might possibly be correlated with accelerating the recovery of sinus node autorhythmicity and conduction functions.

Role of Chinese Herbal Medicines in Regulation of Energy Metabolism in Treating Cardiovascular Diseases.

Recently, studying myocardial energy metabolism pathways or improving myocardial metabolism through drugs is another effective strategy for treating ischemic heart disease. Many active components of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) have been found to modulate energy metabolism in myocardial cells, cerebral vascular cells, endothelial cells and tumour cells. This paper reviews the advances in studies on the active components of CHMs that modulating energy metabolism in treating cardiovascular diseases over the past five years.

Effect of Qiangxin Fumai Granule () on electrophysiological functions of the sinoatrial node during ischemia-reperfusion of the right coronary artery in rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of the Chinese medicine Qiangxin Fumai Granule (, QFG) on electrophysiological functions of the sinoatrial node during ischemia-reperfusion (IR) of the right coronary artery in rabbits. METHODS: The right coronary artery IR model in rabbits was adopted. The modeled rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups: the model group, the atropine group, the high-dose QFG group, and the low-dose QFG group, with 8 animals in each group. In addition, twelve rabbits were selected for the sham-operative group. The drugs were administered once via duodenal perfusion after modeling had been stabilized for 10 min. The changes in AA interval, the sinoatrial conduction time (SACT), the sinus node recovery time (SNRT), the corrected sinus node recovery time (CSNRT) and the index of sinus node recovery time (ISNRT) at different time points during ischemia and reperfusion were measured. RESULTS: The AA interval was prolonged for more than 40 ms in the model group during ischemia. Compared with the model group, the four electrophysiological parameters abovementioned in the high-dose QFG group and the low-dose QFG group were decreased to different extents at each time point (P<0.01 or P<0.05), and no statistically significant differences were found between the QFG groups and the atropine group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: QFG is beneficial for accelerating the recovery of sinus node autorhythmicity and conduction function, so as to protect electrophysiological functions of the sinoatrial node. Accelerating the recovery of autorhythmicity and conduction function in the sinus node is considered its electrophysiological mechanism in the treatment of sinoatrial node injury induced by ischemia.

[Effect of qiangxin fumai granule contained serum on sinoatrial node cells during Ca2+ overloading induced by simulated ischemia/reperfusion].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of Qiangxin Fumai Granule (QFG, a Chinese herbal preparation for treatment of sick sinus syndrome) contained serum (QFG-S) on sinoatrial node cells during Ca2+ overloading induced by simulated ischemia/reperfusion. METHODS: Model Ca2+ overloading cells were established on sinoatrial node cells from newborn rats, with deprivation of oxygen and glucose to simulate ischemia and with restoration of them to simulate reperfusion. Cells were divided into 5 groups, those in the normal and model control groups were modeled directly and those in the treated groups were pre-cultured with UMEM containing respective medicines in aerobic environment for 30 mm before ischemia/reperfusion simulation. Cell Ca2+ concentration and morphology were observed by invert microscope and fluorescence spectrophotometer. RESULTS: Most cells in the model control group revealed cell edema and deformation, even abscission. By HE staining, many minimal vacuole appeared in cytoplasm, with crumpled nuclear membrane, partially damaged. While cells in the QFG-S treated group, either high-dose or low-dose, were attached grew well, with basically smooth and complete membrane and nuclear membrane, normal in size and shape. The intracellular Ca2+ concentration raised significantly after modeling, but it was much lower in the QFG-S treated group than in the model control group (P < 0.01) and it was not changed obviously in the atropine treated group. CONCLUSION: QFG-S could diminish the injury of cell induced by simulated ischemia/reperfusion, the acting mechanism for treatment of sick sinus syndrome might be related to its effect in relieving Ca2+ overloading and thus protecting cells from injury.

[Intervening effect of Qiangxin Fumai Granule on arrhythmia induced by right coronary artery ischemia/reperfusion in rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the development of arrhythmia induced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) of the right coronary artery in rabbits and the intervening effect of Chinese medicine Qiangxin Fumai Granule (QFG), a Chinese preparation for activating yang and promoting blood circulation, on it. METHODS: Rabbit right coronary artery I/R model was adopted. Forty healthy adult rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups, the sham-operation group, the model group, the atropine group, the high-dose QFG group, and the low-dose QFG group, eight in each group. The drugs were administered via duodenal perfusion 10 min after ischemia. The changes of AA interval before and after medication were observed and the scores of arrhythmia were calculated. RESULTS: During ischemia period, AA interval prolonged for more than 40 ms in the model group, and the scores of arrhythmia showed a rising trend along with the prolonging of ischemia, with the presence of atrial-ventricular block (AVB) and aggravating of sinus and atrial arrhythmia; during reperfusion period, the incidence of AVB decreased, and AA interval somewhat decreased. The AA intervals and scores of arrhythmia in the high and low-dose QFG groups were significantly lower than those in the model group respectively (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: QFG is beneficial for shortening AA interval and preventing arrhythmia induced by I/R.

[Effect of Qiangxin Fumai granule on myocyte apoptosis of sinus node and Bax, Bcl-2, Fas-L gene protein in rabbits of sinoatrial ischemia/reperfusion].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the molecular mechanism of Qiangxin Fumai granule (QFG, an effective Chinese composite drug) in preventing and treating sick sinus syndrome (SSS). METHOD: Rabbit model of sinoatrial ischemia/reperfusion was established by occluding and loosening the root of right coronary artery. Effect of QFG on cell apoptosis was observed by TUNEL method, and its effect on apoptotic related gene Bax, Bcl-2 and Fas-L gene protein expression was observed by immunohistochemical method. Average light density values of the expression of Bax, Bcl-2 and Fas-L of SAN cells was determined by Imagepro Plus image analysis system. RESULT: Sinoatrial injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion could cause evident sinoatrial cell apoptosis, enhance Fas-L gene protein expression and obviously enhance Bax gene protein expression, reduce Bcl-2/Bax ratio. QFG could significantly down-regulate Fas-L and Bax gene protein expression, up-regulate Bcl-2/Bax ratio, significantly inhibit and block the sinoatrial cell apoptosis. CONCLUSION: To inhibit and block the event of cell apoptosis through regulating Bax, Bcl-2 and Fas-L gene protein expression in sinoatrial node after ischemia/reperfusion might be one of the mechanisms of QFG in preventing and treating sinoatrial ischemia/reperfusion injury of SSS.

Comparative study between original and traditional method in establishing a chronic sinus node damage model in rabbit.

Sick Sinus Syndrome is a common and refractory arrhythmia, needing further study in which setting up a credible sinus node damage model is important. To explore the feasibility and superiority of an original formaldehyde pinpoint pressing permeation (FPPP) method for building a chronic sinus node damage (CSND) model, 5 rabbits were chosen from 35 as a sham-operation group, and the remaining were randomly divided into two groups: the formaldehyde wet compressing (FWC) group, in which models were established by applying a cotton bud dipped in 20% formaldehyde onto the sinus node (SN) area, and the FPPP group, in which models were established by injecting formaldehyde into the SN area through a self-made pinpointing and injecting electrode. We found that in both groups, the HR at 2 h, 24 h, 1 wk, and 2 wk after modeling decreased compared with premodeling; sinoatrial conduction time, sinus node recovery time, and corrected sinus node recovery time were prolonged compared with premodeling. The indexes mentioned shortened by 2 wk after modeling compared with 2 h in the FWC group, whereas they were stable after modeling in the FPPP group. The modeling achievement ratio in the FPPP group was higher and the death rate was lower. Under light microscope, paraffin sections of the SN tissue and cells showed severe injury in both groups. The results indicate that the CSND models in rabbits can be successfully established by the FPPP method, with higher achievement ratio, lower death rate, better stabilization effect, and less damaging comparing with the traditional method.