RESUMO
AIM:To explore the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on ventricular remodeling and cardiac function in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) rats.METHODS: Lewis rats were randomly allocated to a myocin-induced dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) group receiving saline (n=10), a DCM group receiving PTX (PTX group; 25 mg?kg-1?d-1, ip, for 30 days, n=10) or healthy control group (n=10). The levels of tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-?), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 in the blood plasma were analyzed by ELISA. The extent of fibrosis was estimated using Masson's staining and immunohistochemistry analyses. Cardiac structure and function were measured by echocardiography.RESULTS: PTX decreased plasma levels of TNF-? and IL-6, and increased IL-10 level in DCM animals compared with DCM group [TNF-?: (7.21?0.24) ?g/L vs (19.30?1.31) ?g/L, P