Effect of Astragalus Extract on Cultured Neonatal Rat Hypertrophic Cells Affected by Angiotensin II

Objective To explore the inhibition effect of astragalus extract on cultured neonatal rat hypertrophic cells affected by angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ)and mRNA expression of PKD1. Methods The Ang II-induced cardiac myocyte hypertrophy model was replicated,the neonatal rat cardiomyocytes in primary culture were randomly divided into normal control group,model group,valsartan(Val) in the control group,astragalus extract three different dose groups.There was any added drug in the normal control group,while the final concentration of AngⅡ was 10-6 g·L-1 in the model group,10-6g·L-1 Val in Val control group,and 10-4,10-3,10-2g·L-1 astragalus extract of low,middle and high dose group.Myocardial cell counting and diameter were determined by light microscope,protein content by the bradford method,and PKD1 mRNA expression by the RT-PCR method. Results Compared with the normal control group,the number of myocardial cells in model group changed little,yet cardiomyocyte diameter,total protein content and PKD1 mRNA expression were significantly increased(P0.05);compared with model group,cardiomyocyte diameter,the total protein content and PKD1 mRNA expression of the Val control group were significantly lower(P0.05);as well as the middle and high dose group of astragalus extract(P0.05),and presenting in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion Astragalus extract can significantly inhibit the Ang II-induced cardiac myocyte hypertrophy,which may be closely related with the mRNA expression regulation of PKD1.