Effect of short term heavy alcohol consumption and protection of valsartan on cardiac function in rats / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the mechanism of the effects of heavy alcohol consumption in a short term and the protection of angiotensin Ⅱ receptor blocker (valsartan) on cardiac function in rats. Methods The 42 male Wistar rats aged 20 weeks were randomly divided into 4 groupscontrol group (group C, n= 10), alcohol group (group A, n=10), low-dose valsartan group (LD group, n= 11) and high-dose valsartan group (HD group, n= 11). They were supplied with same animal feeds, but all of them were administered different dose of alcohol and medicine via intragastric tube group C was administered water, group A was administered alcohol (6. 4 g/kg), LD group was administered alcohol (6.4 g/kg) and valsartan (15 mg/kg), HD group was administered alcohol (6.4 g/kg) and valsartan (30 mg/kg). And 9 weeks later, the change of cardiac function was observed by echocardiography, the body and heart weight were measured, the hydroxyproline content of rat myocardium was determined by sample alkaline solution. Results After 9 weeks, there were no significant differences among four groups in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), stroke volume (SV) and fraction shortening (FS). But the E peak, Ea/Aa, Ea peak and Aa peak were obviously lower in group A than in groups of C, LD and HD (all P＜0.05), and there were significant differences among C group, LD group and HD group in E peak, Ea/Aa (all P＜0. 05). The HW/BW and hydroxproline (Hyp) contents of myocardium were higher in group A than in groups of C, LD and HD (all P＜0. 01), but there were no statistical significances among group C, LD group and HD group (all P＞0. 05). Conclusions The short term heavy alcohol consumption results in impaired ultrastructure and diastolic function of myocardium in rats, the angiotensin Ⅱ receptor blocker (valsartan) may protect it.