[The protective effects of sini decoction on mitochondrial function in adriamycin-induced heart failure rats]

The role of mitochondria in Adriamycin (ADR) -induced heart failure and the protective effects of Sini Decoction (SND) were investigated.

SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, control group, heart failure group (model group) and SND group. ADR was injected in the rats of heart failure group and SND group by caudal vein. After injection, the rats in SND group were given SND (3.75/kg/d, p. o.). Three weeks later, cardiac function, mitochondrial swelling, content of malondialdehyde (MDA), activity of Mn SOD, Na+-K+ ATPase and Ca2+ ATPase were measured. The mRNA expression of Mn SOD was also detected by RT-PCR.

Compared with model group, the cardiac function, the activity and the mRNA expression of Mn SOD and the activity of Na+-K+ ATPase and Ca2+ ATPase were significantly elevated, while the degree of mitochondria swelling and the content of MDA were reduced in SND-treated rats.

The data suggests that oxidative stress is present in the mitochondria of myocardium in ADR-induced heart failure rats and it can be reduced by SND. The mechanism may be closely related to the protective effects on mitochondria.