Borage oil attenuates progression of cardiac remodeling in rats after myocardial infarction.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of Borage oil on cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: Male Wistar rats underwent ligation of the left coronary artery and divided into three groups: MI (control), BO-18 (18 mg/kg of borage oil) and BO-180 (180 mg/kg of borage oil). After seven days, heart was arrested in diastole and processed for histological evaluation of: MI size, LV dilation, myocyte hypertrophy, inflammatory infiltration and fibrosis in MI region and in remote region. The relative weight of the lung was used as a marker of heart failure. The MI size was comparable among groups. RESULTS: Compared to control, BO treated groups showed lower weight of heart and lungs, reduced LV dilation and myocyte hypertrophy. Hemodynamic measurements were comparable. The treatment attenuated the inflammatory infiltration and fibrosis in remote myocardium. CONCLUSION: Borage oil attenuates progression of cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure.