Effects of berberine hydrochloride on left ventricular structure and function in rats with myocardial hypertrophy.

Background: Inhibition of Rho/ROCK signalling pathway related proteins can alleviate left ventricular hypertrophy. Berberine hydrochloride (BBR) can effectively inhibit left ventricular hypertrophy. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between BBR and Rho/ROCK signalling pathway.

Methods: Isoproterenol (ISO) was used to induce left ventricular hypertrophy in rats. Two-dimensional speckle tracking technique (2D-STE) was used to evaluate rats in each group (group A: normal control group; Group B: isoproterenol model group; Group C: ISO + 5mg/kg BBR group; Group D: ISO + 10mg/kg BBR group) Heart structure and systolic function. HE staining and Masson staining were used to observe the pathological changes in four groups of rats. The expression levels of RhoA, ROCK-1, TGF-β1 and PTEN protein in myocardial tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry.

Result: The interventricular septum (IVS) of rats in groups C and D was thinner than that in group B (4.05 ± 0.16 mm vs. 3.50 ± 0.29 mm vs. 4.41 ± 0.23 mm, respectively,  < 0.05), and the global radial strain (GRS) of rats in groups C and D was higher than that in group B, especially in group D (26.05 ± 1.41 vs. 30.64 ± 1.63 vs. 19.40 ± 1.05, respectively,  < 0.05). Compared with group B, the expression levels of RhoA, ROCK-1 and TGF-β1 in groups C and D decreased, while the expression level of PTEN increased, especially in group D (all  < 0.05).

Conclusion: BBR can improve the cardiac structure and systolic function of rats with left ventricular hypertrophy, and the improvement mechanism may be related to Rho/ROCK signalling pathway.