Effects of berberine hydrochloride on left ventricular structure and function in rats with myocardial hypertrophy

Abstract

Background

Inhibition of Rho/ROCK signalling pathway related proteins can alleviate left ventricular hypertrophy. Berberine hydrochloride (BBR) can effectively inhibit left ventricular hypertrophy. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between BBR and Rho/ROCK signalling pathway.

Methods

Isoproterenol (ISO) was used to induce left ventricular hypertrophy in rats. Two-dimensional speckle tracking technique (2D-STE) was used to evaluate rats in each group (group A: normal control group; Group B: isoproterenol model group; Group C: ISO + 5mg/kg BBR group; Group D: ISO + 10mg/kg BBR group) Heart structure and systolic function. HE staining and Masson staining were used to observe the pathological changes in four groups of rats. The expression levels of RhoA, ROCK-1, TGF-β1 and PTEN protein in myocardial tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry.

Result

The interventricular septum (IVS) of rats in groups C and D was thinner than that in group B (4.05 ± 0.16 mm vs. 3.50 ± 0.29 mm vs. 4.41 ± 0.23 mm, respectively, p < 0.05), and the global radial strain (GRS) of rats in groups C and D was higher than that in group B, especially in group D (26.05 ± 1.41 vs. 30.64 ± 1.63 vs. 19.40 ± 1.05, respectively, p < 0.05). Compared with group B, the expression levels of RhoA, ROCK-1 and TGF-β1 in groups C and D decreased, while the expression level of PTEN increased, especially in group D (all p < 0.05).

Conclusion

BBR can improve the cardiac structure and systolic function of rats with left ventricular hypertrophy, and the improvement mechanism may be related to Rho/ROCK signalling pathway.

Keywords:

• Rat model of myocardial hypertrophy
• isoproterenol
• berberine hydrochloride
• Rho/ROCK signalling pathway
• two-dimensional speckle tracking technology

Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to Sichuan provincial people’s hospital for their cooperation and assistance.

Ethical approval

All animal studies have been approved by the Ethics Committee of Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital and are therefore conducted in accordance with the ethical standards stipulated in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and subsequent amendments. decision date: 3 February 2021. No.: Ethical Review (Research) No.26, 2021.

Author contributions

Conception and design of the research: HL and TK and Yang Shen; Acquisition of data and Analysis and interpretation of the data and Statistical analysis: HL and TK and Ye Su; Writing of the manuscript: HL and TK and Yang Shen; Critical revision of the manuscript for intellectual content: HL and TK and Yang Shen; LY, the corresponding author of this paper, interpreted the data and substantially contributed to critical revision of the intellectual content.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by grants from the Chengdu Medical College Fund [Approval No. CYZYB21-26].