QiShenYiQi Pill Improves Myocardial Hypertrophy Caused by Pressure Overload in Rats

Abstract Background: QiShenYiQi pill (QSYQ), a traditional Chinese medicine, is widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, but its specific mechanism of action is still unclear. In the current study, we investigated the effect of QSYQ on myocardial hypertrophy in rats by partial abdominal aortic coarctation, and explored its mechanism of action.Methods: Wistar rats underwent the partial abdominal aortic coarctation were randomized into three groups: model, valsartan and QSYQ groups. And we treated rats which were sham operation as control group. Rats were euthanized at 4 and 8 weeks, and we weighed rat body mass, heart mass, and left ventricular mass. Myocardium sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson trichrome. Myocardial TGF- beta 1 and CTGF protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry, and myocardial TGF-b1 and CTGF mRNA expression was detected by real-time qPCR. Results: QSYQ reduced HMI, LVMI and CVF, improved the changes of myocardial pathology, and reduced the degree of myocardial hypertrophy. After 4 weeks, QSYQ inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of TGF- beta 1 and CTGF. In addition, after 8 weeks, QSYQ reduced the positive area of TGF- beta 1 protein, and its effect is better than that of valsartan. Conclusions: QSYQ can effectively improve the degree of myocardial hypertrophy in the pressure overload rats, which is related to the mechanism of regulation of TGF- beta 1 and CTGF.