Effects of aconitine poisoning and Shuang-huang-lian treatment on the expression of myocardial ryanodine receptor

Abstract

To study the impact of aconitine and Shuang-huang-lian injection on the expression of myocardial ryanodine receptor (RyR2) and to discuss the anti-arrhythmic mechanisms of Shuanghuanglian against aconitine poisoning. A total of 52 SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: aconitine group (group A, n=20), Shuang-huang-lian group (group B, n=20) and control group (group C, n=12). Aconitine at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg was firstly administrated to the rats of group A and group B through gavage. 30 minutes later, normal saline was delivered to rats in group A through intraperitoneal injection, while rats in group B received Shuang-huang-lian at a dose of 100 mg/kg through intraperitoneal injection. Group C accepted twice administration of normal saline by gavage and intraperitoneal injection. The disposals for each group were implemented for 10 consecutive days. The rats' electrocardiograms (ECG) were recorded on day 1, 3, 6 and 10. Immunofluorescent staining technique and real-time quantitative PCR technique was used to detect the protein and mRNA expression of myocardial RyR2. The arrhythmia scores of group B at different time were lower than group A and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The protein and mRNA expression of RyR2 in group A was slightly increased on the first day compared to group B and group C, with no statistical significance (P>0.05). On day 3, 6 and 10, the expression of RyR2 protein and mRNA in group A was dramatically increased compared to group B and group C (P<0.01). Shuang-huang-lian injection can effectively prevent the arrhythmia caused by aconitine, which is related to suppressing the aconitine-induced RyR2 expression.