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Protective Effect and Mechanism of Kuntai Capsule on Angiotensin II -Induced Hypertension in Ovariectomized Rats

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Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To explore the protective effect and mechanism of Kuntai (KT) Capsule on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertension in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.

Methods

Fifty-four rats were randomly divided into 6 groups according to a random number table, 9 in each group: control, OVX sham+Ang II, OVX, OVX+Ang II, OVX+Ang II +E2, and OVX+Ang II +KT. OVX rats model was constructed by retroperitoneal bilateral ovariectomy. After 4 weeks of pretreatment with KT Capsule [0.8 g/(kg·d) and 17- β -estradiol (E2, 1.2 mg/(kg·d)] respectively, Ang II was injected into a micro-osmotic pump with a syringe to establish a hypertensive rat model. Blood pressure of rat tail artery was measured in a wake state of rats using a non-invasive sphygmomanometer. Blood pressure changes were compared between the intervention groups (OVX+Ang II +KT, OVX+Ang II +E2) and the negative control group (OVX+Ang II). Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were detected respectively. The expressions of oxidative stress-related protein superoxide dismutase2 (SOD2) and anti-thioredoxin (TRX), autophagy marker protein [beclin1, light chain (LC) 3 II/I ratio and autophagy canonical pathway protein phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/serine/threonine kinase (AKT)-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)] were evaluated by Western blotting.

Results

Compared with the OVX+Ang II group, the systolic blood pressure of OVX+Ang II +KT group was significantly lowered (P<0.05) but not the diastolic blood pressure. Besides, SOD2 and TRX protein levels in mycardial tissues were significantly reduced in the OVX+Ang II +KT group compared with the OVX+Ang II group (P<0.05). Oxidative stress serum markers MDA and SOD were down- and up-regulated in the OVX+Ang II +KT group, respectively (P<0.05). Compared with OVX+Ang II group, the levels of cardiac proteins beclin-1 and LC3II/LC3 I in OVX+Ang II +KT group were also up-regulated (P<0.05), and the expression levels of p-PI3K, p-AKT and mTOR protein were down-regulated (P<0.05).

Conclusion

KT could protect blood pressure of Ang II-induced OVX rats by inhibiting oxidative stress and up-regulating protective autophagy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, 100044, China

    Xiao-fen Ge, Sha-sha Li, Yan-hua Liu, Mei-qiu Lu, Hui-na Su, Xin Yang & Xiao-wan Sun

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dongying People’s Hospital, Dongying, Shandong Province, 257000, China

    Xiao-fen Ge

Authors
  1. Xiao-fen Ge
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  2. Sha-sha Li
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  3. Yan-hua Liu
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  4. Mei-qiu Lu
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  5. Hui-na Su
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  6. Xin Yang
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Contributions

Ge XF contributed to study design, experimental research and manuscript draft. Li SS and Yang X contributed to study design and data analysis. Liu YH and Lu MQ contributed to animal experiments. Su HN contributed to molecular experiments. Sun XW contributed to manuscript draft. All authors read and approved the final version.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xin Yang.

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Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Supported by 2020 Bethune Excellent Talent Training Program for Young and Middle-Aged Doctors

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Ge, Xf., Li, Ss., Liu, Yh. et al. Protective Effect and Mechanism of Kuntai Capsule on Angiotensin II -Induced Hypertension in Ovariectomized Rats. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 29, 526–533 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-022-3514-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-022-3514-3

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