Experimental Research On Cardioprotective Effects Of Carbamylated Erythropoietin In Rats With Chronic Heart Failure

Objective To investigate the cardioprotective effects of carbamylated erythropoietin (CEPO) in rats with chronic heart failure (CHF) and its possible mechanism.Methods Ten rats were randomly selected from 90 male Wistar rats as control group, and the rest of the Wistar rats were treated by intraperitoneal injection of isoproterenol (ISO) to establish animal models of CHF. After being fed for 5 weeks, the rats were redivided into CEPO group and CHF group. The CEPO group underwent intraperitoneal injection of CEPO (50μg/kg) twice a week for 4 weeks. The CHF group and control group received equivalent amount of saline at the same time. After 4 weeks of CEPO therapy, the hemodynamics, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) level and interlerkin-6 (IL-6) level in serum, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate were measured.Results Compared with the control group, the left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and maximum rate of rise/decline of left ventricular pressure (±dp/dtmax) decreased significantly in the CHF group (P<0.05), but the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and heart rate (HR) increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the CHF group, the LVSP and±dp/dtmax increased significantly in the CEPO group (P<0.05), but the LVEDP and HR decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the TNF-a level and IL-6 level in serum and cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate increased significantly in the CHF group (TNF-a: 4.01±0.20 vs 8.09±0.09pg/ml, IL-6:20.93±1.20 vs 30.26±0.94pg/ml, cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate:3.80±0.57% vs 22.35±0.60%) (P<0.05). Compared with the CHF group, the TNF-a level and IL-6 level in serum and cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate decreased significantly in the CEPO group (TNF-a:8.09±0.09pg/ml vs 6.40±0.14pg/ml, IL-6:30.26±0.94pg/ml vs 25.66±0.74pg/ml, cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate:22.35±0.60% vs 13.67±0.36%) (P<0.05).Conclusion CEPO can improve cardiac function in rats with CHF, possibly due to its effects of reducing inflammation reaction and inhibiting the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes.