ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the preventive effect of rats' serum containing Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD) on cultured cardiomyocyte apoptosis of neonatal rat induced by means of 24 hrs hypoxia and 4 hrs reoxygenation, and to investigate its mechanism concerned with nitric oxide (NO).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Myocyte apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and ELISA with Annexin V-PI double labeled method. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) releasing level was measured with ultraviolet spectrophotometer. The NO concentration was determined by modified Yu method and the concentration of thiobarbituric acid response substance (TBARS) was tested by Ohkawa method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>BYHWD contained rats' serum could significantly prevent cardiomyocyte from apoptosis induced by hypoxia and reoxygenation. After hypoxia-reoxygenation, the NO, LDH and TBARS levels in the supernatant of cultured liquid treated with BYHWD were significantly lower than those in non-treated cultured liquid, the effect of BYHWD was dose-dependent.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>BYHWD can prevent cardiomyocytes from apoptosis induced by hypoxia and reoxygenation, its mechanism might be related with oxygen free radical and NO scavenging produced during the hypoxia-reoxygenation process.</p>