Effects of telmisartan on the expression of hepatocyte growth factor in myocardium of rats with diabetes mellitus

Objective To observe the effects of hepatocyte growth factor(HGF)during the course of delayed diabetic cardiomyopathy by telmisartan.Methods Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into the normal group(group C),diabetes model group(group D),telmisartan intervention group(group T).The rats in group D and group T were injected via tail vein with low-dose streptozotocin(STZ,25mg/kg)after 4-week feed with high calorie diet;the rats in group C were injected via tail vein with the same volume of citric acid buffer after 4-week feed with common diet.One week after STZ being injected,the rats in group T were given with telmisartan 8.34 mg·kg-1·d-1,while the rats in group C and group D were treated with the same volume of warm water,and the experiment ended until 12 weeks after telmisartan being given.The blood samples were obtained,and the levels of HGF and heart function were detected,and cardiomyopathy electron microscope slices were prepared.Results The levels of HGF in group D and group T were significantly higher than those in group C(P0.01),which in group T were the highest among the three groups(P0.01).Conclusion Telmisartan can delay diabetic cardiomyopathy,which may be related with the increase of HGF expression.