Abstract: To study the expression of cardiotrophin1 (CT1) in hypertrophic cardiac myocytes induced by high glucose and insulin, and the effect of pioglitazone on the expression of cardiotrophin1(CT1). Methods: The cardiac myocytes were cultured in vitro as a model. Cellular surface, protein content and atrial natriuretic factor mRNA were measured as the cellular hypertrophic parameters. Meanwhile, the expression of cardiotrophin1 mRNA was assayed with semiquantitative RTPCR. Results: After treatment with high glucose and insulin, cellular surface, protein content and expression of atrial natriuretic factor mRNA increased significantly　(P<0.01). Pioglitazone inhibited all these above effects effectively (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results suggest that cardiotrophi1 is involved in the development of myocardial hypertrophy induced by high glucose and insulin. And pioglitazonemay inhibit myocardial hypertrophy by restraining the expression of cardiotrophin1.

Key words: Pioglitazone, High glucose, High insulin, Cardiac hypertrophy, Cardiotrophin1, Rats, Wistar