ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the protective effects of Digoxin on cardioventricular function in rats after simulated weightlessness.Methods Eighty rats were divided randomly into 5 groups:control(Con)group,tail-suspended+sham feeding(TS+SF)group,tail-suspended+Digoxin 2 wk(TS+D2)group and tail-suspended+Digoxin 3 wk(TS+D3)group.The TS+SF group was given the distilled water.At the end of tail-suspended for 3 weeks,the heart function of 10 rats in each group was examined with echocardiography.The level of atrial natriuretic polypeptide(ANP)in serum was measured with immunoradiometric assay in other 6 rats.Results Compared with TS+SF group,the contractile function of LV improved in TS+D2 and TS+D3 groups(P0.05).Conclusion Digoxin can improve muscle contractile and blood ejection of LV and retard the tendency of atrophy in simulated weightlessness.