ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effects of panax quinquefolium 20s-protopanaxtriol saponins (PQTS) on ventricular remodeling in rats with pressure overloaded hypertrophic myocardium.Methods Wister rats were randomly divided into operation,model,positive captopril,and low,moderate,high PQTS groups.The model of pressure overload-induced ventricular remodeling was established through the method of rat's abdominal aorta deligation.After 6 weeks of PQTS treatment ( 12.5,25.0 and 50.0 mg · kg-1 · d-1,i.p),myocardial morphological and hemodynamic parameters were determined.The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD)in serum,and the concentrations of prostacycline (PGI2),thromboxane A2 (TXA2),endothelium (ET) and angiotensin Ⅱ( Ang Ⅱ ) in plasma were also determined.ResultsCompared with remodeling group,PQTS could inhibit myocardial pathological changes,decrease significantly ventricular weight and cardiac coefficient,increase significantly systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure,mean arterial pressure,left ventricular systolic pressure and the maximum left ventricular pressure rising and dropping rates(dp/dtmax),reduce the heart rate and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure in ventricular remodeling rats.PQTS could also decrease the content of MDA and enhance significantly activity of SOD in serum.In addition,PQTS could decline the contents of ET,Ang Ⅱ and TXA2 in plasma while increase significantly the content of PGI2 in plasma and PGI2/TXA2 ratio(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).ConclusionsPQTS has protective effects on ventricular remodeling through improving systolic and diastolic function in ventricular remodeling rats,increasing anti-oxidase activity,reducing the damage of free radicals and vasoactive substance onmyocardium,and correcting disequilibrium of PGI2/TXA2 in ventricular remodeling rats.