Compound xiebai capsule alleviates pulmonary vascular remodeling in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension in rats

Zhouye Wu,Zhaoqing Xi

doi:10.4314/tjpr.v19i1.17

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of compound xiebai capsule (CXC) on pulmonary arterial vascular remodeling in a rat model of monocrotaline-mediated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).Methods: PAH model was established through intraperitoneal injection of MCT (60 mg/kg) to male Sprague-Dawley rats. Thereafter, the rats were grouped and treated with saline (control), nifedipine at a dose of 0.02 g/kg/day (positive control), or different doses of CXC (0.67, 1.00 and 1.32 g/kg/day). The effect of treatments on PAH were determined by measurement of hemodynamic indices and right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI). Pathological features and ultrastructure of the lung tissue were examined by H & E staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine the expressions of proliferation-associated protein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Western blotting was applied to assay the expressions of apoptotic pathway proteins.Results: CXC treatment decreased the levels of hemodynamic parameters in PAH rats, alleviated RVHI, improved pulmonary vascular remodeling, decreased vascular wall thickness and area (WT and WA), downregulated the expression of PCNA, and enhanced the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins (cytochrome C, caspase-3, and caspase-9).Conclusion: This is the first study to investigate the effect of CXC on vascular remodeling in PAH. The results indicate that CXC markedly reversed the deleterious changes in PAH-induced rat model. Keywords: Pulmonary arterial hypertension, Pulmonary vascular remodeling, Caspase, Cytochrome C, Apoptosis, Compound xiebai capsule

Highlights

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is an irreversible disease associated with increased pulmonary blood pressure, reconstructed pulmonary vessels, and poor prognosis
The tissue was incubated with 3 % bovine serum albumin (BSA) at 25 °C for 30 min, followed by incubation overnight with anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) antibody (1:200 dilution; Rat lung tissue was cut into 1 mm × 1 mm × 1 mm cubes which were fixed for 2 h at 4 °C in electron microscopic fixative (G1102, Servicebio, Wuhan, China), followed by treatment with 1 % osmium acid for 2 h at room temperature
After treatment, the values decreased significantly in all four treatment groups (p < 0.01). These results suggest that compound xiebai capsule (CXC) lowered the pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), and improved the hemodynamics changes and right cardiac hypertrophy index of PAH rats

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is an irreversible disease associated with increased pulmonary blood pressure, reconstructed pulmonary vessels, and poor prognosis. The effect of CXC on pulmonary vascular remodeling in rats with PAH, and the possible underlying mechanisms have not yet been studied. After washing with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), the tissue sections were incubated with a goat anti-rat horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated secondary antibody (1:300 dilution; Servicebio, Wuhan, China) at room temperature for 50 min. The tissue was incubated with 3 % bovine serum albumin (BSA) at 25 °C for 30 min, followed by incubation overnight with anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) antibody (1:200 dilution; Rat lung tissue was cut into 1 mm × 1 mm × 1 mm cubes which were fixed for 2 h at 4 °C in electron microscopic fixative (G1102, Servicebio, Wuhan, China), followed by treatment with 1 % osmium acid for 2 h at room temperature. Values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION

Conflict of interest