Pioglitazone inhibits cardiac hypertrophy of rats in vitro and in vivo / 中国应用生理学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the effects of pioglitazone on cardiac hypertrophy in vitro and in vivo.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Angiotensin II was used to establish hypertrophy of cardiac myocytes and pioglitazone was applied to these myocytes in various dosages in vitro. ANP and BNP mRNA expression was evaluated by RT-PCR, and the rate of protein synthesis in CM by 3H-leucine incorporation in cardiac myocytes. Left ventricular hypertrophy was induced by incomplete ligation of abdominal aorta of rats and pioglitazone (20 mg x kg(-1). day(-1)) was administrated one week prior to the operation until 4 weeks after the operation. Cytokines mRNA expression in left ventricle was measured by RT-PCR, left ventricular wall thickness and myocyte diameter were determined by pathological method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Pioglitazone inhibited ANP and BNP mRNA expression and 3H-leucine incorporation in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes induced by angiotensin II in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Furthermore, pioglitazone reduced the mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1 beta and cardiotrophin-1, and inhibited the pressure overload-induced increase in the ratio of heart weight to body weight, left ventricular wall thickness and myocyte diameter of rats in vivo.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Pioglitazone inhibits cardiac hypertrophy of rats in vitro and in vivo, and may play a role in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases characterized by cardiac hypertrophy in future.</p>