ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the effects of Varglaucocalyx on c-fos gene expression during global myocardial ischemia-reperfusion.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Forty Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: group N as control; group CN as ischemia-reperfusion control and group XH, XM and XL treated with Varglaucocalyx 5%, 1%, 0.5% respectively prior to ischemia-reperfusion. The isolated rat hearts were perfused in condition of constant temperature and pressure, and then the left ventricular myocardiums were extracted for use. The expression of c-fos protein was detected by immunochemical method. The expression of c-fos protein were quantified by using computer image analysis system.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with the values of group N, protein expressions relative area of c-fos gene (PERA) were increased significantly in group CN, XH, XM, XL(P < 0.01), but decreased significantly in group XH, XM, XL, compared with those of group CN (P < 0.05). The PERA of c-fos gene in group XM, XL were significantly lower than in group XH (P < 0.01), and the PERA of c-fos gene in group XM were lower than in group XL(P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Varglaucocalyx can effectively depress the expression of c-fos gene in myocardium which may account for its protection against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, and the middle and the low concentrations of Varglaucocalyx are more effective than the high concentrations.</p>