Epac1/Rap1 signaling pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE In this study we explored the role of Epac1-Rap1 pathway in the acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI) in vitro and in vivo. METHODS An acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury model was established by the ligation of left anterior descending coronary. Myocardial architecture, fibers and apoptosis was evaluated by the Masson trichrome staining, Sirius red staining and TUNEL assay.H9c2 cells were subjected to hypoxia for 5 h followed by 1-h reoxygen-ation in vitro.Cell viability was measured by MTT assay and cellular injury was evaluated by measuring the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Western blot, real-time PCR and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expressions of Epac1 and relative downstream molecules.RESULTS Myocardial IR-induced cardiac apoptosis and accumulation of Epac1 and Rap1 in rat IR injury model.Direct Epac activation by 8-CPT(8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-2′-O-methyl-cAMP)exacerbated cardiomyocyte death and dysfunction following hypoxia-reoxygenation(H/R),selective activation of Epac in response to H/R was evident which enriched for cytosolic/membrane proteins and mRNA. Harmacological inhibitor of Epac (ESI-09)significantly ameliorated myocardial injury with the decline of Epac expression.Epac inhibitor and agonist studies also implicated the effect of Rap1, which is downstream of Epac in this pathway. The expression of Rap1 elevated when activated by Epac agonist and was blocked by Epac inhibitor. The same result was true for myocyte CaMK-II and intracellular calcium ions activation.Moreover,ESI-09 also increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation. CONCLUSION Our study reveal that Epac1/Rap1 signaling pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of myocardial I/R injury in rats,which provides evidence on the development of therapeutic strategies target this pathway for myocardial I/R injury.

Clinical efficacy and mechanism of total glucosides from white paeony for radioactive liver damage / 中国中药杂志

To discuss the effects of total glucosides from white paeony on preventing and treating radioactive liver damage, and explore its possible mechanisms. Thirty-six patients with primary hepatic carcinoma from 105th Hospital of Chinese PLA were treated with 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy and randomly divided into simple irradiation group, total glucosides from white paeony group, and control group. The levels of AST, ALT, HA, LN, PCⅢ, CIV and TGF-β1 in serum of various groups were determined by using ELISA method. As compared with the simple irradiation group and control group, total glucosides from white paeony could obviously decrease the levels of AST, ALT, HA, LN, PCⅢ, CIV and TGF-β1(P<0.05, P<0.01). The results showed that the total glucosides from white paeony could effectively prevent and treat radioactive liver damage, and its mechanism might be associated with decreasing the levels of TGF-β1, and inhibiting the synthesis of collagen synthesis.

Protective effect of injection of Danhong against acute myocardial ischemia in dogs / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effects of injection of Danhong against acute myocardial ischemia in dogs.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The myocardial ischemia model were established by ligation of coronary artery in dogs. The degree of myocardial ischemia and the myocardial infarction size were observed before and after giving injection of Danhong. The serum creatine phosphokinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities were also determined.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Injection of Danhong (1, 2, 4 g x kg(-1)) could significantly decreased the damage degree of myocardial ischemia, redused myocardial infarction size and also reduced the serum LDH and CK activities.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Injection of Danhong had protective action on myocardial ischemia.</p>

Effects of total flavone of Abelmoschl Manihot L. Medic on the function of platelets and its mechanism / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of total flavone of Abelmoschl Manihot L. Medic (TFA) on the function of platelets and to explore its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rat models of artery-veins bypassing thrombus formation were used. The platelets of rabbits were collected. Platelet aggregation was induced by collagen and intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) was assayed by Fura-2 method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TFA (25, 50, 100 mg/kg) significantly and dose-dependently reduced the weight of thrombus. TFA (0.025, 0.05, 0.1 mg/ml) possessed dose-dependant inhibitory effects on rabbits' platelet aggregation induced by collagen. TFA significantly reduced the resting and CaCl(2)-induced increase of free intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) in rabbit platelet in vitro.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TFA has an antiplatelet effect via the inhibition on the influx of Ca(2+).</p>

Anti-aging action of the total lactones of ginkgo on aging mice / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the effects of total lactones of ginkgo on aging by using D-galactose induced aging mice and natural aging mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>By using D-galactose induced aging mice, to detect the LF content in heart and liver, the Hyp content in liver, the MAO, GSH-Px activities and the NO content in cerebrum. The apoptosis of cerebral cell was determined by terminal deoxy-nucleotidyl transforase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end-labeling (Tunel) in natural aging mice.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TLG was shown to increase the GSH-Px activities, reduce the NO content and decrease the MAO activity in cerebrum. Meanwhile, TLG was found to reduce the LF content in liver and heart and raise the Hyp content in liver. TLG was shown to inhibit apoptosis of cerebral cell and decrease the number of apoptotic cells in the brain.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TLG possesses effect on antiaging via attenuating lipid peroxidation and NO and apoptosis of cerebral cells.</p>