Abstract
Objective: To investigate the effects of Shensongyangxin (SSYX) capsule on myocardial expression of connexin 40 (Cx40) in diabetic rat model. Materials and Methods: Thirty-one male Sprague-Dawley rats (SD, 8 weeks old, weighing 220 g) were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group (NC, n = 10), diabetic group (diabetes mellitus [DM], n = 9), and diabetes plus SSYX group [SDM], n = 12). SD rats were injected intraperitoneally with streptozotocin (SZT, 65 mg/kg) to make the diabetic rat model. SDM group was given daily SSYX 1 g/kg by gavage and NC group and DM group were given a daily amount of distilled water by gavage. The expression levels of Cx40 in atrial and ventricular muscles were analyzed by Western blot techniques. Hematoxylin and eosin staining technique was used to observe the changes of myocardial structure; the distribution of myocardial Cx40 was analyzed by immunofluorescence technique. Results: Cx 40 levels in the atrial and ventricular muscle were lower in DM group than in the NC group (P < 0.05). The cardiac muscle cells were arranged in order in the NC group. Extensive necrosis and apoptosis of myocardial cells were noted accompanied by the disorder of permutation, adipose tissue, and fibrous tissue in DM group. In the SDM group, the cardiac muscle cells were arranged orderly, but fibrous tissue and vasculitis were observed. Immunostaining showed that the expression of Cx40 in the myocardium was distributed at the end of the long axis of myocardial cells with a ladder-like distribution in the NC group. The expression of Cx40 in the myocardium was mostly distributed on the side of the long axis of myocardial cells in the DM group. The expression level of Cx40 in atrial muscle was increased, and the distribution in the SDM group was primarily lateral. Conclusions: The expression of Cx40 in the myocardium was decreased and mainly distributed on the sides in DM group. SSYX capsule upregulated the expression of Cx40 in the atrium in diabetic rats. No significant effect was noted on the expression and distribution of Cx40 in the ventricular muscle.
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