Effects of Xinmailong on Expression of NF-κB and TNF-α in Myocardium of Asphyxiated Neonatal Rats

Objective To investigate the effects of Xinmailong on myocardial injury in asphyxiated neonatal rats after hypoxia-ischemia and its mechanism through observing the influence of Xinmailong on the expression of NF-κB and TNF-α in myocardium.Methods A total of 96 neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group(n=32),asphyxia group(n=32) and Xinmailong group(n=32).Rats were tested at various time points(3,6,12 and 24 hours;8 rats per time point per group).The newborn rat model of asphyxia was induced in asphyxia group and Xinmailong group.The levels of CK-MB and the pathological changes in myocardial tissue were observed.The expression of NF-κB in the myocardium was detected by immunohistochemistry and the levels of TNF-α were determined by ELISA.Results The levels of CK-MB and the expression of NF-κB and TNF-α in asphyxia group was higher than that in control group(P0.01).The highest levels were observed at 6 hours,and there was a positive correlation between NF-κB and TNF-α(r=0.979,P0.01).Compared with asphyxia group,Xinmailong significantly decreased the levels of CK-MB and the expression of NF-κB and TNF-α(P0.01).Conclusion The expression of NF-κB and TNF-α increases in myocardium of asphyxiated neonatal rats and reaches the highest levels at 6 hours.Xinmailong can protect the immature myocardium by reducing the expression of NF-κB and TNF-α in newborn rats with myocardial injury.