ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the effect of curcumin on cardiac remodeling and heart function change induced by adriamycin in rats. Methods: A total of 50 SD rats were randomly divided into blank control group (n=10), adriamycin group (n=20) and curcumin intervention group (n=20). General conditions of rats, including weight, hair color, diet and activity capacity, were observed. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDd) were observed by echocardiography. Rat heart was weighed and levels of cardiac collagen type Ⅰ and Ⅲ were observed using immunohistochemistry method. Results: Compared with blank control group after experiment, there were significant increase in heart weight [(168.53±26)mg vs. (208.34±31)mg], heart weight/body weight [(0.36±0.06) vs. (0.52±0.08)], and significant decrease in body weight [(469.27±34)g vs. (428.47±45)g]; significant increase in LVEDd [(4.87±0.19)mm vs. (7.49±0.83)mm], significant decrease in LVEF [(69.53±6.25)% vs. (41.46±4.38)%] and LVFS [(45.83±3.79)% vs. (17.25±2.92)%] in adriamycin group, P<0.05 all, significant increase in expression rates of collagen type Ⅰ and Ⅲ, P<0.01.Compared with adriamycin group, there were significant increase in body weight (452.46±38)g, significant decrease in heart weight (178.73±38)mg, heart weight/body weight (0.39±0.07); significant decrease in LVEDd (5.96±0.65)mm and significant increase in LVEF (53.12±5.43)% and LVFS (36.57±3.66)%, P <0.05 all; significant decrease in expression rates of collagen type Ⅰ and Ⅲ in curcumin group, P <0.01. Conclusion: Curcumin can improve cardiac remodeling and heart function induced by adriamycin in rats.