Effect of ginsenoside-Rb₁ on cardiomyocyte apoptosis after ischemia and reperfusion in rats

Abstract

The effect of ginsenoside Rb₁ on cardiomyocyte apotosis after ischemia (30 min) and reperfusion (6 h) in rats was observed. The ischemia/reperfusion heart model was established by ligating left anterior descending branch of coronary artery in Wistar rats. The apoptotic cardiomyocytes were examined under transmission electron microscopy and counted byin situ nick end labeling (TUNEL) method and light microscopy. Results showed that (1) The apoptotic cardiomyocytes were found in ischemic regions in the ischemia/reperfusion group, but not in the sham-operating group under transmission electron microscopy; (2) The number of apoptotic cells were 134.45±45.61/field in the ischemia/reperfusion group, 0/field in the sham-operating group and 51.65±13.71/field in the ginsenoside Rb₁-treated group. The differences were significant among the three groups (P<0.01). It was concluded that myocardial ischemia-reperfusion could induce cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and ginsenoside Rb₁ could significantly inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by ischemia-reperfusion in rats, indicating that ginsenoside Rb₁ could inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by ischemia-reperfusion, thus alleviating ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Keywords

ginsenoside Rb₁ / ischemia/reperfusion / cardiomyocyte apoptosis

References

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