[Effects of Moxibustion on Ventricular Mass Index and Expression of Apoptosis Related Proteins in Myocardium of Rats with Chronic Heart Failure].

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To observe the effect of moxibustion on cardiac function and the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X (Bax), Fas, Fas ligand (FasL) in cardiomyocytes of chronic heart failure (CHF) rats, so as to explore its underlying mechanisms in preventing and treating CHF.

METHODS:

SD rats were randomly divided into normal control, model, moxibustion, Captopril and moxibustion ＋ Captopril (M＋C) groups (n＝12 rats/group). The CHF model was established by intraperitoneal injection of Adriamycin (ADR, from 1 to 4 mg/kg, once every other day for 15 days). Mild moxibustion was applied to bilateral"Feishu"(BL 13) and "Xinshu"(BL 15). Rats of the Captopril group was treated by gavage of Captopril suspension (5 mg/mL, 25 mL/kg), and those of the M＋C group treated by the combined two methods. All the treatments were given once a day for 3 weeks. The general conditions and behaviors of rats were observed. The left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and right ventricular mass index (RVMI) were detected for assessing the cardiac performance. Morphological changes of myocardium were observed by HE staining. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the concentrations of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and precursor N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) in the serum. The expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, Fas and FasL of the left ventricle of heart were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS:

After modeling, the pathological changes of myocardium (as myocardial cell swelling with vacuoles, myocardial fibre breakage, etc.) were obvious, the LVMI, RVMI, serum BNP and NT-pro BNP concentrations, and myocardial Bax, Fas and FasL protein expression levels were significantly increased in the model group compared with the normal group (P<0.01), while the expression level of Bcl-2 was significantly down-regulated (P<0.01). Following the interventions, the myocardial injury was reduced, both LVMI and RVMI, serum BNP concentration and Bax, Fas and FasL expression levels in the three treatment groups, and serum NT-pro BNP concentration in the moxibustion and M＋C groups were significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the myocardial Bcl-2 protein levels in the three treatment groups were significantly increased relevant to the model group (P<0.01). Comparison among the three treatment groups showed that the effects of moxibustion ＋ Captopril were significantly superior to those of simple moxibustion and simple Captopril in suppressing CHF-induced increased expression of myocardial Bax, Fas and FasL, and in lessening CHF-induced decrease of Bcl-2 level (P<0.05, P<0.01). No significant differences were found among the three treatment groups in down-regulating LVMI and RVMI, and serum BNP content (P>0.05)．.

CONCLUSION:

Moxibustion can reduce myocardial injury and improve cardiac function in CHF rats, which may be related to its effects in down-regulating the expression of myocardial Bax, Fas and FasL proteins, and up-regulating the expression of Bcl-2 protein to inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

• Authors: Dan Li, Qing-Ling Li, Qiang Ma, Na-Na Liu, Jia-Hui Yang, Yong-Lei Zeng, Ling He, Hui Tan, Xue-Zhao Jia, Jing Wang
• Journal: Zhen ci yan jiu = Acupuncture research (Zhen Ci Yan Jiu) Vol. 43 Issue 2 Pg. 80-5 (Feb 25 2018) ISSN: 1000-0607 [Print] China
• PMID: 29516694 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Animals
• Apoptosis
• Heart Failure
• Moxibustion
• Myocardium
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley