QiShenYiQi Pills® prevents cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury via energy modulation

BackgroundQiShenYiQi Pills® (QSYQ) is a compound Chinese medicine used in China for alleviating cardiac function. The present study was designed to explore the effect and mechanism of QSYQ on ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)-induced disorders in myocardial structure and function, with particularly focusing on the regulation of energy metabolism.MethodsSprague-Dawley rats, with or without QSYQ pretreatment, were subjected to 30 min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery and followed by 90 min or 24 h reperfusion. Myocardial blood flow (MBF) and cardiac function were evaluated at baseline, immediately after ischemia and 30, 60, 90 min, and 24 h after reperfusion. Myocardial infarction, myocardial histology and ultrastructure were assessed. Double staining of alpha-cardiac actinin and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling was conducted to assess myocardial apoptosis. ATP, ADP and AMP content was determined by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, F-actin in myocardial cells determined by immunofluorescence microscopy and expression of ATP synthase α, ATP5D, and phosphorylated-Myosin Light Chain (P-MLC) determined by western blotting.ResultsPre-treatment with QSYQ protected against I/R-induced MBF decrease, myocardial infarction and apoptosis at 90 min and 24 h after reperfusion. Moreover, I/R 90 min caused an impairment on cardiac function, a decrease in the ratio of ADP/ATP and AMP/ATP, accompanying with reduction of ATP 5D expression and increase in the expression of P-MLC, meanwhile, myocardium to exhibit myocardial fiber rupture, interstitial edema, and mitochondria swelling, all of which were significantly ameliorated by pre-treatment with QSYQ.ConclusionsThe results of the present study suggest an involvement of regulation of energy metabolism in the action of QSYQ to protect against myocardial I/R injury.