Zhen-Li Wu1, Hao Ren2, Wen-Yan Lai3, Sheng Lin1, Rong-Yan Jiang1, Tao-Chun Ye1, Qian-Bo Shen1, Qing-Chun Zeng3, Ding-Li Xu4. 1. Department of Cardiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. 2. Key Laboratory for Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education of the People׳s Republic of China, China; Department of Rheumatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. 3. Department of Cardiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory for Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education of the People׳s Republic of China, China. 4. Department of Cardiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory for Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education of the People׳s Republic of China, China. Electronic address: dinglixu@fimmu.com.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Sclederma of Poria cocos (Hoelen) has been used as a diuretic in traditional Asian medicine. However, the underlying mechanism by which Sclederma of Poria cocos (hoelen) exerts its diuretic effect has not been well identified. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Sclederma of Poria cocos (hoelen) in rats with chronic heart failure (CHF) induced by acute myocardial infarction and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An aqueous extract of Sclederma of Poria cocos (hoelen) (2.4 g/kg/d, 1.2 g/kg/d or 0.6 g/kg/d) or furosemide (20 mg/kg/d) was administered orally to male Sprague-Dawley rats starting on the day of coronary ligation. The urine output of all rats was quantified and collected every day for 1 or 4 weeks. The expression of aquaporin-2 (AQP2) was examined after treatment for 1 or 4 weeks. RESULTS: Urinary output increased significantly and urinary osmolality decreased after oral administration of Sclederma of Poria cocos (hoelen) for both 1 and 4 weeks. Sclederma of Poria cocos (hoelen) caused less electrolyte disorder than furosemide. Furthermore, Sclederma of Poria cocos (hoelen) reduced the levels of plasma BNP in CHF rats, whereas furosemide had no effect. Importantly, both mRNA and protein expression of AQP2 were down-regulated and urinary excretion of AQP2 was decreased after administration of Sclederma of Poria cocos (hoelen) to CHF rats. Similarly, Sclederma of Poria cocos (hoelen) reduced plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) level and down-regulated vasopressin type 2 receptor (V2R) mRNA expression. CONCLUSIONS: Sclederma of Poria cocos (hoelen) exerts its diuretic effect and improves cardiac function in CHF rats via the AVP-V2R-AQP2 axis.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Sclederma of Poria cocos (Hoelen) has been used as a diuretic in traditional Asian medicine. However, the underlying mechanism by which Sclederma of Poria cocos (hoelen) exerts its diuretic effect has not been well identified. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Sclederma of Poria cocos (hoelen) in rats with chronic heart failure (CHF) induced by acute myocardial infarction and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An aqueous extract of Sclederma of Poria cocos (hoelen) (2.4 g/kg/d, 1.2 g/kg/d or 0.6 g/kg/d) or furosemide (20 mg/kg/d) was administered orally to male Sprague-Dawley rats starting on the day of coronary ligation. The urine output of all rats was quantified and collected every day for 1 or 4 weeks. The expression of aquaporin-2 (AQP2) was examined after treatment for 1 or 4 weeks. RESULTS: Urinary output increased significantly and urinary osmolality decreased after oral administration of Sclederma of Poria cocos (hoelen) for both 1 and 4 weeks. Sclederma of Poria cocos (hoelen) caused less electrolyte disorder than furosemide. Furthermore, Sclederma of Poria cocos (hoelen) reduced the levels of plasma BNP in CHFrats, whereas furosemide had no effect. Importantly, both mRNA and protein expression of AQP2 were down-regulated and urinary excretion of AQP2 was decreased after administration of Sclederma of Poria cocos (hoelen) to CHFrats. Similarly, Sclederma of Poria cocos (hoelen) reduced plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) level and down-regulated vasopressin type 2 receptor (V2R) mRNA expression. CONCLUSIONS: Sclederma of Poria cocos (hoelen) exerts its diuretic effect and improves cardiac function in CHFrats via the AVP-V2R-AQP2 axis.