Effect of Aprovel Therapy to Heart Function and MMP-3 Expression after Acute Myocardial Infarction in Rabbits

Objective: To investigate the change of matrix metalloproteinases during the ventricular remodeling and heart failure induced after acute myocardial infarction in rabbits and the effect of Aprovel.Methods: Rabbits myocardial infarction model was established by permanent ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery.Twenty-eight New Zealand rabbits were randomized divided into 3 groups:sham group,infarcted group and drug treatment group.Pre-operation and 10 weeks after operation,the interventricular septum thickenss(IVSd),left ventricular posterior wall thickness(LVPWd),left ventricular ejection fraction(EF) were measured by echocardiography.Expression of MMP-3 protein in myocardium tissues was quantified by Western Blotting.Results: At 10th week,both IVSd and LVPWd had a significant decrease in drug treatment group compared with those of infarcted group(P0.05).EF was obviously increased(P0.05),but still lower than sham group(P0.05).Expression of MMP-3 protein increased after myocardial infarction.The level of MMP-3 was correlated negatively with the EF.Conclusion: The alteration of MMP-3 contribute to the ventricular remodeling and heart failure induced after acute myocardial infarction.Aprovel can reduce myocardial hypertrophy,improve heart function by reducing the activity of MMP-3.