Abstract: To investigate the influence of interferonα and astragalus membranaceus on cardiomyocyte apoptosis in murine viral myocarditis. Methods: 108TCID50/ml Coxsackievirus B3, 0.1?ml, was inoculated intraperitoneally in BALB/c mouse as model of murine viral myocarditis. Astragalus membranaceus granule was administrated by mouth in a dose of 30?mg/g/d in astragalus membranaceus granule treatment group, and interferonα1b was injected intraperitoneally in a dose of 104IU/g /d for 5 days since 24 hours after viral inoculation in interferonα treatment group. Mice were killed respetively on day 7,14, and 21 after inoculation. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis and serum TNFα concentration were determined by TUNEL in situ and ELISA respectively. Results: Percentage of cardiomyocyte apoptosis and concentration of serum TNFα increased in mice with viral myocarditis, and both of them reduced in interferonα and astragalus membranaceus granule treatment groups. Conclusion: Both interferonα and astragalus membranaceus can inhibit excessive cardiomyocyte apoptosis in murine viral myocarditis.

Key words: Myocarditis, Apoptosis, Interferonalpha, Astragalus membranaceus, Mice，inbred BALB C