Effects of Ginsenosides-Rb1 on Connexin 43 in Heart Failure in Rats / 天津医药

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of ginsenosides-Rb1(Gs-Rb1) on doxorubicin (Dox)-induced heart failure (HF), and the related mechanisms of connexin 43 (CX43) thereof. Methods Rats with Dox-induced HF were ran-domly divided into Dox group (n=15) and Gs-Rb1 group (n=17), and the health age-matched rats were as control (n=15). In addition, cardiomyocytes were randomly divided into Dox group, Gs-Rb1 group and control group. After the intervention, echocardiography or apoptotic ratio (AR) was analyzed, respectively. The expression levels of p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1), protein phosphatase type 2A (PP2A) and CX43 were detected by Western bolt or RT-PCR analysis, respectively. Re-sults Gs-Rb1 significantly improved heart function in rats with HF, decreased left ventricular mass index and inhibited the cell apoptosis induced by Dox. Both mRNA and protein expressions of CX43 were significantly decreased in Dox group than those of control group. The expression of CX43 was significantly increased in Gs-Rb1 group, which was significantly lower than that of control group. There was no significant difference in PAK1 between Dox group and control group (P>0.05). The expression of PAK1 was significantly up-regulated by Gs-Rb1. The PP2A protein was significantly up-regulated in Dox group than that of control group, which was significantly higher in Gs-Rb1 group than that of Dox group. Conclusion Gs-Rb1 improved HF by adjusting CX43, which may be mediated by PAK1-PP2A.