Effects of Barbaloin Pretreatment on Myocardial Cell Apoptosis, the Contents of TNF-α and Activity of Ca2+-ATPase in Rats with Ischemia Reperfusion

Objective To observe the effects of Barbaloin pretreatment on myocyte apoptosis in rat hearts with acute myocardial ischemia and reperfusion(IR). Methods The left anterior descending branch of coronary artery was ligated to make a myocardial ischemia-reperfusion model in rats. The experiment rats were divided into four groups: sham operation (SO), ischemia-reperfusion (IR), Barbaloin (45,90 mg.kg-1·d-1) group. Apoptosis index (AI) of myocardium was detected by TUNEL in situ apoptosis assay kit, TNF-α were measured by ELISA and Ca2+-ATPase activity of mitochondrial were measured by chemical method. Results Compared with IR group, AI and TNF-α was significantly decreased in Barbaloin group. Moreover, the activity of Ca2+-ATPase was increased in Barbaloin group. Conclusion Barbaloin can significantly inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis in ischemia-reperfusion rat hearts. The possible mechanism is to reduce TNF-α levels and raise Ca2+-ATPase activity in rats.