RESUMO
Objective To investigate the effect of genipin on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and autophagy in rat after hypoxia/ reoxygenation (H/ R) injury. Methods The method with hypoxia treatment of H9c2 cells for 12 hours and then reoxygenation treatment for 4 hours was used in the present study in order to establish H/ R model. The H9c2 cells were divided into control group (Con), genipin group (GE), model group (H/ R), model + genipin group (H/ R+ GE). Cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8). Cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe autophagosomes. The expression of Bax, Bcl-2, P62, Beclin1, LC3-Ⅱ, protein kinase B(Akt), p-Akt, mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR), p-mTOR proteins were assessed by Western blotting. Results Genipin pretreatment enhanced the cell viability, prevented cell apoptosis and autophagosome accumulation, and reduced the ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the autophagic structures to that of the cytoplasm after H/ R injury in H9c2 cells. Western blotting showed that genipin pretreatment decreased the expression of Bax, LC3-Ⅱ, Beclin1 proteins and increased the expression of Bcl-2, p62, p-Akt, p-mTOR proteins after H/ R injury. Conclusion Genipin can inhibit H/ R injury-induced apoptosis and autophagy, which may be through activating Akt/ mTOR signaling pathway.