Effects of warming yang and invigorating qi prescription on renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in rats with heart failure after myocardial infarction

This study investigated the effects of warming yang and invigorating qi prescription on renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in rats with heart failure after myocardial infarction. 126 rats were randomly divided into model group, sham operation, warming yang, invigorating qi, warming yang+invigorating qi, digoxin and captopril group for respective treatment. After intervention for 6, 8 and 10 weeks, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was calculated, and the plasma renin, angiotensin II and aldosterone levels were measured. Results showed that, after 6, 8 and 10 weeks, LVEF in warming yang, invigorating qi, warming yang+invigorating qi and captopril group was significantly higher than model group (P < 0.05), and the plasma renin, angiotensin II and aldosterone levels in warming yang, invigorating qi, warming yang+invigorating qi and captopril groups were significantly lower than model group (P < 0.05). Renin angiotensin II and aldosterone levels in invigorating qi, warming yang+invigorating qi and captopril groups after 10 weeks was significantly lower than after 6 weeks (P < 0.05); aldosterone level in captopril groups after 10 weeks was significantly lower than after 6 weeks (P < 0.05). Warming yang and invigorating qi prescription can improve LVEF in rats with heart failure after myocardial infarction, which may be related with the inhibition of RAAS activation.(AU)

Medicinals with properties of warming Yang and tonifying Qi in terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine: their effects on left ventricular ejection fraction and aldosterone in rats with induced failure heart.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate on Left ventricular ejection fraction value and aldosterone of two medicinals of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with the properties of warming Yang and tonifying Qi in terms of TCM theory. METHODS: An animal model of coronary ligation of heart failure after myocardial infarction was employed to study the influence of these two kinds of drugs on three batches of rats. On the basis of the average score of left ventricle ejection fraction during the investigation, there were some different groups, including WenYang (the warming Yang) group, YiQi (tonifying Qi) group, WenYang and YiQi group, captopril group, digoxin group. In additional, an artificial operation group was set for comparison The systemic intervention using these medicinal and drugs was taken effects on the 2nd day after the operation of myocardial infraction (MI) with once a day. At week one, two, and four after the MI treatment, evaluated were EF values, and ferritin, angiotensin-II and aldosterone in the rats' plasma. RESULTS: At week one and week two, the medicinal of WenYang, YiQi, WenYang pluse YiQi, and digoxin could improve left ventricular ejection fraction in rats with heart failure; Compared to the model group, captopril Left ventricular EF value increased, but there was not significant. At week four, heart failure and left ventricular EF values was improved in the intervention group and the other four captopril drug intervention. At week one in the rats with drug intervention, the medicinals of YiQi, WenYang plus YiQi, and captopril could inhibit activation in vivo hormone aldosterone in heart failure rats; aldosterone in WenYang group and digoxin group were not different from that in the model group at week two and four. CONCLUSION: Chinese medicinals with properties of WenYang, YiQi have significant effect on improving left ventricular EF in rats with heart failure; compared to YiQi medicinals, WenYang medicinals that inhibit the effectiveness of the time required for the activation of the role of aldosterone. The medicinals of WenYang and YiQi seems better by inhibiting the activation of the hormone aldosterone after failing to inhibit ventricular remodeling to improve heart failure.

Effects of xuesetong soft capsules on angiogenesis and VEGF mRNA expression in ischemic myocardium in rats with myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Xuesetong Soft Capsules, Notoginseng total saponin) on angiogenesis and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression in ischemic myocardium of rats with myocardial infarction. METHODS: The left coronary artery of rats was ligated to establish the animal model of acute myocardial infarction. Rats were randomly divided into Xuesetong Soft Capsule, Shexiangbaoxin Pill (positive control), model (negative control) and sham operation groups. After 6 weeks, microvessel count (MVC), microvessel density (MVD) and VEGF mRNA expression in ischemic myocardium were evaluated. RESULTS: MVC and MVD in the myocardial infarct border area in model, Shexiangbaoxin Pill and Xuesetong Soft Capsule groups significantly increased compared with those of the sham operation group (P < 0.05). MVC and MVD in the myocardial infarct border area in Xuesetong Soft Capsule and Shexiangbaoxin Pill groups significantly increased compared with those of the model group (P < 0.05). No significant differences between Xuesetong Soft Capsule and Shexiangbaoxin Pill groups were observed (P > 0.05). The model group showed significantly higher VEGF mRNA expression than that in the sham operation group (P < 0.05). Xuesetong Soft Capsule and Shexiangbaoxin Pill groups showed significantly higher VEGF mRNA expression than that of the model group (P < 0.05). No significant difference between Xuesetong Soft Capsule and the Shexiangbaoxin Pill groups was observed (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Xuesetong Soft Capsules promote angiogenesis in ischemic myocardium after myocardial infarction and the mechanism may be associated with VEGF mRNA expression.

[Effect of shensongyangxin capsule on myocardial remodeling and ventricular fibrillation threshold value in rat with coronary artery ligation].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of shensongyangxin capsule on myocardial remodeling and ventricular fibrillation characteristics in rat with coronary artery ligation. METHOD: Twenty-three male rats were randomly divided into sham-group (n = 5), model group (n = 6), anmiodarone group (n = 6) and shensongyangxin capsule group (n = 6). Drugs were administrated after modeling of 2 days, lasting four weeks. Two dimensional and Doppler images were acquired by a 15 MHz high-frequency linear ultrasound transducer at 4 weeks after operation, and chest was opened to detect ventricular fibrillation threshold value and persistent time. RESULT: After administration of four weeks, echocardiogram was detected. Compared with model group, shensongyangxin capsule group diastasis interventricular septum thickness (IVSTd) and left ventricle diameter (LVDd) were significiently different between them (1.20 +/- 0.49) vs (0.78 +/- 0.08) mm and (6.77 +/- 1.34) vs (7.95 +/- 0.92) mm, (P < 0.01 and 0.05); echocardiogram result had no difference in amiodarone and model groups (P > 0.05). LVMI measured by practicion was different between shensongyangxin capsule and model groups: (17.12 +/- 1.91) vs (18.95 +/- 1.41) g x m(-2), (P < 0.05), while amiodarone group had no difference compared with model group. Electrophysiology was used to detect ventricular fibrillation threshold value and 1-5, 6-10, 11-15 V three stages' ventricular fibrillation threshold persistent time were significiently different among each group (P < 0.01), 16-20 V stage's ventricular fibrillation persistent time were also different among each group (P <0.05). Sample "average ranks" showed ventricular fibrillation threshold value of amiodarone group and shensongyangxin capsule group were four times than model group; and amiodaron group had best effect of holding-back ventricular fibrillation persistent time. CONCLUSION: The coronary artery ligation can result in myocardial remodeling by increasing volume load, and at the same time influencing electrophysiology function of heart. Amiodaron elevated ventricular fibrillation threshold of heart, this effect maybe relate to influencing many ion channels of myocardial cellular membrane; shensongyangxin capsule also elevate ventricular fibrillation threshold of heart, this effect maybe also relate to influencing many ion channels of myocardial cellular membrane, and on the other hand this effect maybe relate to hold-back ventricular remodeling after coronary artery was ligated, accordingly improve electrophysiological base material of heart.