Effect of sodium houttuyfonate on inhibiting ventricular remodeling induced by abdominal aortic banding in rats.

Ventricular remodeling is an independent risk factor for many cardiovascular events. Inhibiting ventricular remodeling early may be an effective way to postpone heart failure for patients with cardiovascular illness. The study was designed to examine the effect of sodium houttuyfonate on ventricular remodeling induced by pressure overload in rats, as well as to explore the mechanisms involved. The model rats in which ventricular remodeling was induced abdominal aortic banding (AAB) were randomly divided into 4 groups: AAB control, AAB plus captopril (40 mg/kg), AAB plus low dose of sodium houttuyfonate (50 mg/kg), and AAB plus high dose of sodium houttuyfonate (100 mg/kg). One month after operation, hemodynamic parameters, heart mass indexes, size of cardiomyocytes, myocardial collagen volume, angiotensin II content in ventricular tissue, and serum concentrations of aldosterone and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were evaluated. Sodium houttuyfonate significantly reduced heart mass indexes, the size of cardiomyocytes, and the myocardial collagen volume and decreased the levels of angiotensin II, aldosterone, and TNF-alpha. At the high dose, it decreased blood pressure and heart rate. In conclusion, sodium houttuyfonate attenuates ventricular remodeling induced by pressure overload in rats. The beneficial effects are in part associated with its alleviating the activation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and decreasing the TNF-alpha level. Furthermore, its function seems to correlate with reduced blood pressure and heart rate.