ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of nano-?-linolenic acid on the expression of cathepsin B(CB) in mice with viral myocarditis(VM).Methods Eighty male Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups:control group,myocarditis group,low-dose intervention group and high-dose intervention group,each group had 20 mice.Mice in control group were inoculated introperitoneally with eagle′s solution,every mouse in the last 3 groups was treated with 0.1 mL Coxsackie B3 virus(CVB3) intraperitoneally.Then,mice in low-dose intervention group and high-dose intervention group were treated with 60 mg?kg-1and 180 mg?kg-1 nano-?-linolenic acid solution for 7 days,respectively.Mice in control group and myocarditis group were treated with 9 g?L-1 saline for 7 days.All mice were killed on the 15th day,and the specimens of hearts and serum were conserved.Myocardial histopathology was determined with hematoxylin and eosin stain.The expression levels of myocardial CB mRNA were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.Serum CB concentration was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results The mortality rate was 0,45%,30% and 20% in control group,myocarditis group,low-dose intervention group and high-dose intervention group,respectively;the mortality rate was significantly lower in high-dose intervention group compared with myocarditis group(P0.05).The expression level of CB mRNA and serum CB concentration were markedly higher in myocarditis group than those in control group(Pa