Effects of ligustrazine on myocardial fibrosis in rats with pressure overload

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effects of ligustrazine (Li) on myocardial fibrosis in rats with pressure overload.Methods: Pressure overload rat models were established by constricting the abdominal aorta. Sixty-three SD rats were divided into 3 groups: Sham operated group (SOG, n = 21), operated group (OG,n = 21) and operated combined with ligustrazine group (OG+Li,n = 21). Each group was randomly assigned to seven time points: The 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 14th, 21st and 30th day after operation. Three rats were included in each time point. Serial sections of cardiac tissues were examined and the morphological or morphometric analysis of the SOG, OG and OG+Li done by histopathological and computer image analyzer technique.Results: (1) It showed that there were reactive fibrosis (from the 4th day on after operation) and reparative fibrosis (from the 21st day on after operation) in the OG, while myocardial fibrosis in the OG+Li was alleviated. Though reactive fibrosis (from the 21st day on after operation) was shown, reparative fibrosis wasn’t seen. (2) Perivascular collagen area (PVCA) in the OG (2. 09 ± 0. 45) was significantly higher than SOG (0.83 ± 0.06) from the 1st day on after operation and then steadily increased, while in the OG+Li (1.16 ± 0.06), it was significantly lower than OG at the same time; collagen volume fraction (CVF) in the OG (3.08 ± 0. 56) significantly increased compared with the SOG (2. 78 ± 0. 64) from the 2nd day on after operation and showed a trend of rapid ascending from the 21st day on after operation; and in the OG + Li (4.69 ± 0.85), it was significantly decreased compared with the OG (7.56 ± 0.88) from the 21st day on after operation, with allP<0. 05.Conclusion: Ligustrazine could alleviate and postpone the accumulation of myocardial collagen and has protective effects on the heart.