Effect of Fufangfulingancao Decoction on Pulmonary Vascular Structure Remodeling Induced by Hypoxia in Rats

AIM: Investigate the effect of Fufangfulingancao Decoction on pulmonary vascular structure remodeling during the progression of pulmonary hypertension induced by hypoxia in rats. METHODS: Thirty healthy Spraque-Dawley male rats of three months old weighted (260±20)g was randomly divided into control group ( n =10) , hypoxia group( n =10) and Fufangfulingancao Decoction treatment group( n =10). Established the rat model of chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension by exposing rats to normobaric hypoxic conditions for 3 weeks, and rats of control group were used as normoxic controls. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) was measured by a right cardiac catheterization. Right ventricular hypertrophy was expressed as the ratios of right ventricular wall to left ventricle plus septum. The pulmonary vascular structural changes were observed with optical microscope, immunohistochemistry and Weigert elastic fibers staining. RESULTS: Hypoxic rats developed remarkable pulmonary hypertension and increment in the right ventricular hypertrophy ( P 0.01) after 21days' hypoxia, and the number of muscular and partially muscular arteries enhanced significantly ( P 0.01), relative medial thickness and relative medial area of medical membrane increased also ( P 0.01). The number of non-muscular arteries decreased (P0.05). Pretreatment with Fufangfulingancao Decoction could attenuate the changes mentioned above. CONCLUSION: Fufangfulingancao Decoction can efficiently restrain HPH. Its mechanism maybe partly relates to the promotion of the pulmonary vascular structural remodeling.