Effect of perindopril on myocyte apoptosis and left ventricular function after myocardial infarction in rats

Objective To study the effect of perindopril on myocyte apoptosis and left ventricular function after myocardial infarction in rats. Methods After the model of myocardial infarction was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary of rats, the survivals were randomly divided into group A (perindopril group, n=16) and group B (myocardial infarction group, n=16). Meanwhile, the other 16 shame operation rats were as control group(group C, n=16). Each group was treated by direct gastric gavage from the second day, and rats of group A was treated with perindopril, group B and C with pure water. Six weeks later, the myocyte apoptosis index was detected with TUNEL and the expression of P53 mRNA with real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. In addition, all the rats were checked left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular ejection fraction, and fractional shortening with echocardiography.Results Compared with group C, there was a significantly increase of apoptosis index, expression of P53 mRNA and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter in group A and B (P0.05). The left ventricular ejection fraction and fractional shortening were apparently reduced (P0.05). Compared with group A and B, the apoptosis index, the level of P53 mRNA expression and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter in group B were higher than group A(P0.05), and the left ventricular ejection fraction, fractional shortening were significantly lower (P0.05). Conclusion After myocardial infarction, the apoptosis index and the expression of P53 mRNA in myocardium are increased distinctly, and the left ventricular function is remarkably decreased. Perindopril, which can reduce the expression of P53 mRNA and the number of cell apoptosis, can effectively improve left ventricular function in rats.