Effect of SKF96365 on Myocardial Fibrosis in Type-II Diabetic Rats

Diabetes mellitus type 2 is a risk factor for developing heart failure and myocardial fibrosis, but there is no specific therapy for diabetic heart disease. 1-[2-(4-methoxyphenyl)]-2-[3-(4-methoxyphenyl) propoxy]ethyl-1H-imidazole (SKF96365) is regarded as an inhibitor of receptor-mediated calcium ion (Ca2+) entry. This study aimed to explore the effects of SKF96365 on diabetic myocardial fibrosis.

A type 2 diabetic rat model induced by a high-sugar and high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin was established. Thirty specific pathogen-free male Wistar rats were divided randomly into three groups: group A (the blank control group), group B (the diabetes group) and group C (the diabetes + transient receptor potential canonical channel [TRPC] blocker intervention group). Group C was given 0.74-µmol/kg SKF96365 by intraperitoneal injection, and groups A and B were given the same amount of normal saline by intraperitoneal injection. The weight and blood sugar of the rats were monitored. After 12 weeks, the weight of the whole heart and the left ventricle was measured, and the heart and the left ventricular weight ratios were calculated. Haematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe pathological changes in the myocardial tissue and the distribution of nuclei. Masson staining was used to identify collagen and muscle fibres, and the myocardial collagen volume fraction (CVF) was calculated. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of SKF96365 target genes. A value of p < 0.05 indicated that the difference between the groups was statistically significant.

Compared with the weight of the rats in group A, the weight of those in groups B and C decreased, while blood sugar, whole heart weight and left ventricular weight increased (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in body weight between the rats in groups B and C (p > 0.05). The HE staining results showed that the arrangement of cardiomyocytes in groups B and C was irregular, and focal necrosis was seen in severe cases. The degree of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) in group C was less severe than that in group B. Masson staining showed that the CVF increased in groups B and C, with group B > group C (p < 0.05); the mRNA expressions of TRPC3 and TRPC6 were upregulated in groups A, B and C, and the mRNA expressions of TRPC3 and TRPC6 in group C were downregulated compared with those in group B (p < 0.05). Compared with the expression levels of SKF96365 target genes (STIM1, Orai1 and Homer1) in group A, those in group B were lower, while the administration of SKF96365 in group C did not affect the expression levels of those genes.

SKF96365 can effectively improve myocardial fibrosis in type-II diabetic rats.