Correlation between high expression of hepcidin and vascular endothelial damage as well as intervention of tetramethylpyrazine / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore the correlation between the high expression of hepcidin and vascular endothelial damage and the intervention effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP). Methods: Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into four groups blank control, model, heparin, and TMP groups. Except the rats in the blank control group, the rats in all other groups were fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks. The rats in the blank control and model groups were injected with normal saline at 2 mL/(kg∙d). The rats in the TMP group were injected with TMP at 40 mg/(kg∙d), and heparin at 5 mg/(kg∙d) was given to those in the heparin treated group. After rats were given medicine for 7 d, the levels of blood lipid, serum hepcidin, NO, ET-1, ROS, MDA, CAT, and SOD were detected. Results: As compared with blank control group, the levels of hepcidin, ET-1, ROS, and MDA in serum were significantly increased in the model group (P < 0.05), while NO, CAT, and SOD were obviously decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the levels of hepcidin, ET-1, ROS, and MDA in serum were obviously decreased in TMP and heparin groups (P < 0.05), while NO and CAT were obviously increased (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Hepcidin expression is increased with the vascular endothelial damage aggravated. After rats are given TMP, the level of serum hepcidin and extent of vascular endothelial damage are decreased. It is suggested that TMP has the protective effects on the vascular endothelial function might be correlated to inhibiting high expression of hepcidin.