Effects of peidolapril on myocardial energy metabolism and the ultrastructural changes in chronic heart failure rats

Objective To study the effects of perindopril on myocardial energy metabolism and ultrastructural changes in rats with chronic heart failure (CHF) induce by isoproterenol. Methods Totally 55 male SD rats were randomly (random number) divided into two groups, namely control group (Group C) and CHF model group. The CHF rat models were made by subcutaneous injection of isopreteronol (ISO) in doses of 20 mg · kg-1 · d-1, 10mg · kg-1 · d-1 and 5 mg/kg/d for successive 3 days and then 3 mg· kg-1 · d-1 for9 days. Four weeks later, the rats in CHF model group were randomly further divided into two subgroups, namely untreated subgroup (group M ) and perindopril treated subgroup (group P). After treatment for five weeks in average, echocardiography and myocardial pathology examination carried out to assess the cardiac function and structure changes of these rats. The levels of ATP, ADP, AMP, lactic acid (LA) and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ -ATPase (SERCA) activity in myocardium were determined by enzymatic reaction. Results Compared with rats in group M, the ejection fraction of left ventricle (EF) and fractional shortening of short axis of left ventricle (FS) of the rats in group P increased by 3.25％ and 7. 33％, respectively. Compared with rats in group C, the myocardial ATP, AMP, TAN (total adenosine) and LA significantly decreased in rats of group M. There were no significant differences in the levels of ADP, AMP, ATP/ADP and TAN between group C and group P (P ＞0. 05). Compared with rats in group M, the myocardial SERCA activity increased by 16. 41％ in rats of group P. The myocardial injury found under microscope and electronic microscope was ameliorated by treatment with peidolapril in rats of group P in comparison with rats of group M. Conclusions Perindopril can improve myocardial energy metabolism,and lessen the pathological changes of ultrastructure, enhancing the cardiac function of rats with CHF induced by ISO. Key words: Chronic heart failure;  Isoproterenol;  Perindopril ;  Energy metabolism