| ObjectiveIn this study,we investigated the effect of puerarin on blood pressure,endothelial function as well as the underlying mechanism involved in angiotenin?Ang?II induced hypertensive rats.MethodsSixteen Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control,Ang II or puerarin-treatment groups.The rats were infused with Ang II(0.7 mg·kg-1·day-1,implanted by mini-pump)for 6 days or with puerarin(100 mg·kg-1·day-1,I.P.)for 10 days followed by Ang II and puerarin for 6 days.The systolic blood pressure?SBP?was measured by tail-cuff method.Endothelium-dependent relaxation?EDR?to acetylcholine was determined using organ chamber bath.Expression of the protein in the aortic tissue was determined by Western blot analysis.ResultsCompared with control rats,Ang II infused rats developed hypertension?SBP:178 ± 10 mm Hg,P<0.05?,aortic hypertrophy?30%,P<0.05?and left ventricular?LV?hypertrophy?23%,P<0.05?,puerarin significantly reduced SBP?161±5 mm Hg,P<0.05?,aortic and LV hypertrophy in Ang II-infused rats.Puerarin also reduced aortic medial thickness and myocardial cell surface area in Ang II infused rats.Compared with control rats,Ang II infused rats exhibited an impaired EDR with reduction in the protein expression of phosphor-e NOs at ser 1177 and increase in the expression of gp91phox?85%?,p22phox?113%?,TGF-?1?145%?and VCAM1?82%?.Puerarin improved EDR and reversed the changes in Ang II induced protein expression of above molecules.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that in Ang II induced hypertensive rats puerarin protects against endothelial dysfunction and end organ damage with a mild reduction in SBP,these cardiovascular beneficial effects of puerarin may be at least in part attributed to its anti-oxidant and upregulation of phosphor-e NOs. |
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