EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH Effects of Tanshinone IIA on the Myocardial Hypertrophy Signal Transduction System Protein Kinase B in Rats

Objective: To study the effect of tanshinone ⅡA on the cell signal transduction system protein kinase B (Akt) in rats with hypertrophy of the myocardium induced by partial constriction of the thoracic aorta. Methods: Rat models of myocardial hypertrophy were established by the thoracic aorta partial constriction method. Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into the sham-operative group, the model group, the valsartan treatment group, and the low-, medium-, and high-dose tanshinone treatment groups. The heart mass index (HMI), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), ejection fraction (EF), left ventricular posterior wall (LVPW), and interventricular septal thickness (IVS) were detected by high-frequency ultrasonography. The myocardial fi ber diameter (MFD) was detected by HE staining, and the contents of p-Akt and p-Gsk3β in the myocardium were detected by Western blot. Results: Compared with the sham-operative group, the levels of HMI, LVMI, LVPW, IVS, and MFD were increased respectively in the other groups (P 0.05). Conclusion: Tanshinone ⅡA can prevent myocardial