Effect of ramipril on ischemia-reperfusion induced apoptosis of cardiomyocyte and expression of apoptosis-related genes

Aim To observe the effect of ramipril on ischemia-reperfusion induced apoptosis of cardiomyocytes and expression of apoptosis-related genes.Method Male Wistar rats were subjected to 30 min of myocardial ischemia and 120 min of reperfusion.Rats were randomized to receive vehicle or ramipril(1 mg·kg~(-1)) orally 24 h before surgery.Myocardial infarct size was measured using the staining agent 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride(TTC).Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was assessed using terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL) assay and confirmed with detection of DNA ladder formation.The expression of antiapoptotic gene(Bcl-2) and proapoptotic gene(Bax) was determined by immunohistochemistry.Results At the end of reperfusion,infarct size was reduced by ramipril.TUNEL assay and DNA-laddering study demonstrated that cardiomyocyte apoptosis was attenuated in ramipril-treated hearts,correlating with increased expression of Bcl-2 and ratio of Bcl-2/Bax.Conclusion Ramipril exerts cardioprotection by decreasing the ischemia-reperfusion induced necrosis and apoptosis of cardiomyocyte and increasing the expression of Bcl-2 and ratio of Bcl-2/Bax.