[Effect of Huangqi gegen decoction (HGD) on TGF-beta1/Smad3 pathway in diabetic cardiomyopathy rats].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of HGD on diabetic cardiomyopathy and its mechanism. METHODS: The T2-DM rats model was established by combining high fat diet with STZ. The blood glucose, insulin, myocardial fibrosis and TGF-beta1/Smad3 signaling pathway were observed; TGF-beta1 and Smad3 mRNA expression were detected by RT-PCR method, protein expression detected by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: HGD obviously reduced fasting blood glucose, insulin, improved insulin resistance, reduced myocardial hydroxyproline contents, lowered cardiac index, significantly inhibited over-expression of TGF-beta1/SMAD3 mRNA and protein in diabetic rats cardiac. CONCLUSION: HGD can obviously prevent experimental diabetic myocardial fibrosis through the regulation effect on TGFbeta1/Smad3 signaling pathway.