Effect of carvedilol on myocardial extracellular matrix remodeling in rats after acute myocardial infarction

Aim: To study the effect of carvedilol on myocardial extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in rats after acute myocardial infarction(AMI). Methods: The model of AMI was induced by ligation of left anterior descending branch. The sham operation group was made by the same procedure but not ligating. The rats survived 24 hours after operation were randomly divided into carvedilol group treated with carvedilol 10 mg/kg/d (n=11) ,while AMI group(n=12) and sham operattion group were only treated with the same volume normal saline.At the end of the 4th week, in non-infarcted region, the mRNA expression and the activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and 9 were detected by semi-quantity RT-PCR and gelatin zymography, respectively. The total collagen volume fraction(CVF) was measured by picric acid-fuchsin acid. Results: At the end of the 4th week, mRNA expression and the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and CVF of the non-infarcted region in AMI group were elevated compared with those of the sham operation group (all P0.01). After carvedilol treatment, the indexes mentioned above were significantly decreased in carvedilol group compared with AMI group (all P0.01). Conclusion: It is concluded that carvedilol can modulate ECM remodeling after AMI,which may be the mechanism of carvedilol improving AMI in rats.