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Effect of berberine on catecholamine levels in rats with experimental cardiac hypertrophy
Ying Hong1, Sarah S C Hui, Benjamin T Y Chan
1Division of Chinese Medicine, School of Professional and Continuing Education, The University of Hong Kong, 1/F Austin Tower, 22-26A Austin Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. yhong2000@hotmail.com
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Berberine effectively modulates sympathetic nervous activity in rats with cardiac hypertrophy by reducing adrenaline and noradrenaline levels. This highlights berberine
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Pharmacology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cardiac hypertrophy (CH) is associated with altered sympathetic nervous system activity.
- Catecholamines, including adrenaline and noradrenaline, play a crucial role in cardiovascular regulation.
- Understanding the impact of natural compounds on catecholamine levels in CH is vital for therapeutic development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of berberine on adrenaline and noradrenaline levels in a rat model of experimental cardiac hypertrophy.
- To compare the efficacy of berberine with captopril in modulating catecholamine levels and cardiac hypertrophy.
Main Methods:
- Cardiac hypertrophy was induced in rats via suprarenal abdominal aorta constriction.
- Berberine and captopril were administered for 8 weeks post-surgery.
- Cardiac hypertrophy was assessed by heart and left ventricular weight.
- Plasma and left ventricular tissue catecholamine levels (adrenaline and noradrenaline) were quantified using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).
Main Results:
- Rats with cardiac hypertrophy exhibited elevated plasma and left ventricular adrenaline, and elevated plasma noradrenaline, indicating increased sympathetic activity.
- Left ventricular noradrenaline levels were decreased in cardiac hypertrophy rats.
- Berberine treatment reduced plasma noradrenaline and both plasma and tissue adrenaline levels, but did not reverse cardiac noradrenaline depletion.
- Captopril increased depleted cardiac noradrenaline and reduced elevated plasma noradrenaline.
Conclusions:
- Berberine demonstrates efficacy in modulating sympathetic nervous activity in experimental cardiac hypertrophy.
- Berberine's effects on catecholamine levels suggest therapeutic potential for cardiac hypertrophy and chronic heart failure.
- Captopril effectively counteracted sympathetic overactivity and noradrenaline depletion in this model.
Abstract:
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of berberine on catecholamine level (adrenaline and noradrenaline) in rats with experimental cardiac hypertrophy. Cardiac hypertrophy(CH) was induced by suprarenal abdominal aorta constriction, and the drugs were administered for 8 weeks starting from 4 weeks after surgery. The degree of cardiac hypertrophy was determined by heart and left ventricular weight. The level of adrenaline(AD) and noradrenaline(NA) was detected by HPLC. The data showed that in the CH model rats, the level of plasma and left ventricular tissue AD, and the level of NA in plasma were higher than that of the age-matched controls(indicating increased "total" sympathetic activity). The level of NA in left ventricular tissue of CH model rats was however lower than the age-matched controls. Berberine and captopril showed significant effect on inhibiting the development of cardiac hypertrophy. Berberine decreased plasma NA level and the AD level both in plasma and left ventricular tissue, but had no effect on improving the cardiac NA depletion. Captopril showed significant effect on increasing the depleted cardiac NA and in reducing the elevated plasma NA level. These findings show the efficacy of berberine on modulating the sympathetic nervous activity of rats with experimental cardiac hypertrophy, and reflect the therapeutic potentials of berberine in patients with cardiac hypertrophy and chronic heart failure.