Abstract:

Objective    To investigate the effect of Qindan Capsule (QD) on expression of vascular wall collagen Ⅰin old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), and further research into the mechanism of vascular remodeling. Methods    Thirty-two 40 week old SHRs were divided into the model group(SHR group), the QD high dosage group(SHR+QDH group), the QD low dosage group(SHR+QDL group), and the losartan group(SHR+Los group). At the same time, 16 Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats at the same age were taken as the normal control group(WKY control group )and QD group(WKY+QD group). All rats were administered with corresponding drugs or normal saline. After 12 weeks, the level of collagenⅠ in thoracic aorta was detected by immune-histochemical staining, and mRNA expression of collagenⅠ in thoracic aortic wall was analyzed by real-time quantitative fluorescent PCR. Results    The order in expression of collagen Ⅰfrom low to high was as follows: WKY control group, WKY+QD group, losartan group, QD high dosage group, QD low dosage group, and the model group. Compared with the normal control group,  expression of collagenⅠ in the QD group was reduced (P＜0.05). The difference in the reduction of expression of collagenⅠbetween the QD high dosage group and the losartan group was unconspicuous(P＞0.05) . Conclusions    QD could lower and inhibit expression of collagen Ⅰin the thoracic aortic wall, and modify collagen remodeling. Also, it could suppress andeven reverse thoracic aorta vascular remodeling.

Key words: Qindan Capsule; Vascular remodeling; CollagenⅠ; Western blotting; Real-time PCR; Rats