[Panax notoginsenosides protects left ventricular function after acute myocardial infarction by enhancing bone...

Objective To observe the effect of panax notoginsenosides (PNS) on cardiac function of rats after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and investigate the influence of PNS on the mobilization of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). Methods A total of 48 rats were randomly assigned into the sham group, AMI group, low-dose PNS group [100 mg/(kg.d)] and high-dose PNS group [500 mg/(kg.d)]. The rat model of AMI was established by coronary ligation, and 6 rats were sacrificed in each group after 7 and 21 days of treatment with high and low doses of PNS. The heart function of rats was detected by echocardiography before execution, and peripheral blood and heart tissue were collected. Flow cytometry was used to test the proportions of CD90, CD105, CD54 or CD106 positive cells in the peripheral blood. ELISA was performed to measure the levels of stem cell factor (SCF) in the peripheral blood. TTC staining was applied to evaluate the infarct size of myocardial tissues. TUNEL assay was carried out to determine the apoptosis of myocardial tissues and immunohistochemistry to determine the expression levels of CD105 in the infarction area. Results Compared with the sham group, the percentage of apoptotic cells in the AMI group significantly increased. Seven days or 21 days after the intervention with PNS, the infarction area and the apoptotic rates in the PNS treated groups were observably alleviated when compared with the AMI group. In addition, at 7 days and 21 days after operation, the LVEF and LVFS decreased, whereas the LVIDs, LVIDd, LVEDV and LVESV significantly decreased in the AMI groups when compared with the sham group. Treatment with PNS could effectively improve the above alterations. When compared with the AMI group, PNS treatment significantly increased the proportions of CD90 or CD105 positive cells and the concentration of SCF, whereas decrease the proportions of CD54 or CD106 positive cells in the peripheral blood in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the level of CD105 in the marginal zone of AMI was significant higher in the PNS treated groups when compared with that in the AMI group. Conclusion PNS treatment improves left ventricular function after AMI, which may be related to PNS inhibiting the apoptosis of myocardocytes and promoting the mobilization of BM-MSCs.