Ultrasound evaluation of Astragalus injection in improving right ventricular structure and function in rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the value of Astragalus injection in improving the right ventricular structure and function in rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) . Methods Thirty adult male SD rats were randomly divided into the blank control group, model group and Astragalus injection group (n=10 each) . The blank control group was injected intraperitoneally with normal saline. The PAH rat models were established in the model group and Astragalus injection group. The Astragalus injection group was injected intraperitoneally with 4 ml/kg Astragalus injection. The right ventricular function, pulmonary artery blood flow and pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) in the three groups were determined by echocardiography, spectrum Doppler and right cardiac catheterization, respectively. The changes of vascular endothelial function were monitored. Results ① The levels of RVOTD, PAD, RVWT, RVD1 and RVD2 in the the model group and Astragalus injection group were higher than those in blank control group (P<0.05) , whereas the levels of EI, RVFAC, TAPSE, IVCD, PAV, AT, AT/ET and DTI were lower than those in blank control group (P<0.05) . The levels of RVOTD, PAD, RVWT, RVD1 and RVD2 in the Astragalus injection group were lower than those in the model group, whereas the levels of EI, RVFAC, TAPSE, IVCD, PAV, AT, AT/ET and DTI were higher than those in the model group (P<0.05) . ② The incidence rates of TR (60.00%, 20.00%) and PR (70.00%, 30.00%) in the model group and Astragalus injection group were higher than those in the blank control group (0%) (P<0.05) , and the incidence rates of TR (20.00%) and PR (30.00%) in the Astragalus injection group were lower than those in the model group (60.00%, 20.00%) (P<0.05) . ③ The NO level in the model group and Astragalus injection group was lower than that in the blank control group, whereas the levels of ET-1 and mPAP were higher than those in the blank control group (P<0.05) . The NO level in the Astragalus injection group was higher than that in the model group, whereas the levels of ET-1 and mPAP were lower than those in the model group (P<0.05) . Conclusion The Astragalus injection can improve the right ventricular morphology and function in PAH rats. Key words: Hypertension, pulmonary; Astragalus; Ventricular function, right; Uhrasonography; Disease model, animal