Objective:

2

To investigate the effects of Composition of Ophiopogon polysaccharide

Notoginseng total saponins and

Rhizoma Coptidis

alkaloids (CONR) on myocardial apoptosis of diabetic atherosclerosis (DA) rabbits

Methods:

2

Sixty male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 6 groups [control group

model group

CONR high-dose group (450 mg/kg)

CONR medium-dose group (150 mg/kg)

CONR low-dose group (50 mg/kg)

and simvastatin group] by using a completely random method

10 in each group. DA model was established by intravenously injected alloxan combined with high-fat diet and abdominal aortic balloon injury. After mediation for 10 weeks

fasting blood glucose (FBG)

glycosylated hemoglobin (GHB)

glycosylated serum protein (GSP)

fructoseamine (FRA)

aldose reductase (AR)

advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in serum were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method; the expression of receptor of AGEs (RAGE) in myocardial tissue were observed by immunohistochemical method; and p-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK)

caspase-3

B-cell lymphoma-2 (bcl-2) protein expression in myocardial tissue were measured by Western blotting. The myocardial apoptosis was detected by TdT-mediated dUTPnick-end labeling (TUNEL) method

and apoptosis index (AI) was calculated.

Results:

2

Compared with the control group

serum FBG

GHB

GSP

FRA

AR

AGEs and the expression of myocardium RAGE

p-JNK

caspase-3 proteins

as well as apoptosis index (AI) were significantly increased and bcl-2 protein was significantly decreased in the model group (

P

<

0.01). Compared with the model group

the levels of serum FBG

GHB

GSP

FRA and AR showed a significant decline in CONR high- and medium-dose groups (

P

<

0.01). FBG and GHB showed a significant decline in CONR low-dose group (

P

<

0.01). Compared with the model group

the expression of serum AGEs and myocardium RAGE

p-JNK and caspase-3 protein as well as AI were significantly decreased and bcl-2 protein was significantly up-regulated in all treatment groups (

P

<

0.01); high-dose CONR had the most significant effect on abovementioned indices compared with other treatment groups (

P

<

0.01). Middle-dose CONR had better effect on serum AGEs compared with the low-dose group (

P

<

0.01); middle-dose CONR and simvastatin groups had better effect on the expression of caspase-3

bcl-2 protein

myocardium apoptosis compared with the CONR low-dose group (

P

<

0.01).

Conclusion:

2

CONR may effectively inhibit myocardial apoptosis on DA rabbits by intervening AGEs-RAGE and JNK

caspase-3

and bcl-2 protein expressions.