PMID: 16630451Apr 25, 2006Paper

Effect of valsartan on Tribble 3 gene expression in rats with experimental diabetic cardiomyopathy

Zhonghua xin xue guan bing za zhi
Wei ZhangYun Zhang

Abstract

Tribbles, a protein family controlling mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades, might contribute to the remodeling process in dilated cardiomyopathy. We investigated the gene expression of Tribble 3 (TRB(3)), cardiac function and collagen changes in rats with diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) and the modulating effects of valsartan on them. Male Wistar rats were fed with high cholesterol diet throughout the study period, streptozocin (30 mg/kg, i.p) was given at the 28th day, valsartan (30 mg.kg(-1).d(-1), n = 13) or placebo (n = 11) was administered at the 35th day to rats with fasting blood glucose > or = 11.1 mmol/L per gavage for another 12 weeks. Control rats (n = 8) were fed with regular chow. Fasting blood glucose was monitored throughout the study, left ventricular function was determined by echocardiography, myocardial collagen content quantified after Masson-staining and myocardial mRNA expression of TRB(3) detected by quantification real-time RT-PCR at the end of study. Cardiac function was significantly improved (EF: 74% +/- 10% vs. 66% +/- 7%, P < 0.05), myocardial collagen content decreased (13.23 +/- 3.14 vs. 16.92 +/- 3.18, P < 0.05) in rats with DCM treated with valsartan. Moreover, TRB(3) mRNA was significantly ...Continue Reading

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