Abstract | BACKGROUND: Intermediate filament (IF) proteins have been thought to play a role in nuclear centration, organelle movement and maintenance of cell shape. dl- praeruptorin A ( Pd-Ia), a novel Ca2+-influx blocker and K+-channel opener isolated from Chinese traditional herbal medicine Qian-Hu, has been demonstrated to inhibit expression of apoptosis related proteins and reduce the level of proinflammatory factors in ischemia/reperfusion myocardiocytes. Morphologically, whether Pd-Ia effects myocardiocyte IFs remains unclear. The purpose of this study was, for the first time, to evaluate the in vivo effects of Pd-Ia on IF desmin and vimentin content in order to further explore its cardioprotection against ischemia and elucidate its mechanism of action. METHODS: Rats underwent a 30 minutes coronary occlusion followed by 120 minutes reperfusion. Assessment of desmin and vimentin content of myocardiocytes was performed by immunohistochemistry, Western blot, Hematoxylin- Eosin staining and densitometry. RESULTS: Pretreatment with i.v. infusion of Pd-Ia prior to ischemia significantly increased desmin and vimentin content and alleviated defects caused by the ischemia/reperfusion insult, e.g. with Pd-Ia at a dose of 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg, integrated density values of desmin were increased from 61 478 +/- 10 074 to 177 408 +/- 10 395 and 195 784 +/- 20 057, and vimentin from 59 189 +/- 19 853 to 164 781 +/- 19 543 and 185 696 +/- 20 957 (P < 0.01, vs placebo), respectively. The recovery of desmin seemed to be stronger and appeared earlier than that of vimentin. CONCLUSION:
Pd-Ia protectively increased IF desmin and vimentin content in ischemia/reperfusion myocardiocytes, which might be partially responsible for its cardioprotection against ischemia.
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Authors | He Chang, Xiao-yu Chu, Jun Zou, Tian-hui Chang |
Journal | Chinese medical journal
(Chin Med J (Engl))
Vol. 120
Issue 24
Pg. 2256-9
(Dec 20 2007)
ISSN: 0366-6999 [Print] China |
PMID | 18167213
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Coumarins
- Desmin
- Drugs, Chinese Herbal
- Vimentin
- praeruptorin A
- Calcium
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Topics |
- Animals
- Blotting, Western
- Calcium
(metabolism)
- Coumarins
(pharmacology)
- Desmin
(analysis)
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Drugs, Chinese Herbal
(pharmacology)
- Female
- Immunohistochemistry
- Male
- Myocardial Ischemia
(drug therapy, metabolism)
- Myocardial Reperfusion Injury
(prevention & control)
- Myocytes, Cardiac
(chemistry, drug effects, pathology)
- Rats
- Rats, Wistar
- Vimentin
(analysis)
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