The effect and mechanism of carvedilol long-time ventricular remodeling in rats with myocardial infarction

AIM:To explore the effect and protective mechanism of carvedilol in long-time ventricular remodeling in rats with myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: Rat models with MI were established by the ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery. Rats with myocardial infarction were randomly divided into carvedilol group (Carv, 15), myocardial infarction group (MI, 15) and sham-operated group (Sham, 15). Animals in carvedilol group were treated with carvedilol ［2 mg/(kg·day)］ by gastric gavage and animals in the other two groups were given the same amount of distilled water. After 24 weeks of treatment, the extent of ventricular remodeling and the expression of 4-HNE and MDA were measured in the noninfarcted myocardium. RESULTS: Twenty-four weeks after MI, LVEDD in the MI group significant increased compared with that in the sham group (P<0.05). EF and FS values significant decreased compared with those in the Sham group and the Carv group (P<0.01). Expression of 4-HNE and MDA in the MI group significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Expression of 4-HNE and MDA in the Carv group decreased compared with that in the MI group (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Six months after myocardial infarction, the expression of 4-HNE and MDA in noninfarcted myocardium is still active and the oxidative stress reaction is still sustained. Carvedilol can promote the metabolism of active aldehyde, protect the heart and improve the prognosis after MI.