Effects Of Astilbin On The Apoptosis In Acute Cardiac Allograft Rejection In Rats

Objective:To investigate the effects of Astilbin on apoptosis during acute rejection of cardiac allograft in rats.Methods : Thirty-six Wistar rats underwent heterotopic heart transplantation in the cervical portion from disparate SD rats .The cardiac grafts were harvested at 3,5 or 7 days after transplantation. The cardiac allograft sections were subjected to the HE staining and insitu terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferas-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling(TUNEL) for histopathological rejection grade and apoptotic index(AI).Results:Apoptosis mainly occurred in cardiac myocytes throughout allograft rejection. Astilbin could markedly reduce myocyte apoptosis and abate the damage to the graft tissue.The histopathological rejection grade at 3,5 or 7 days post-transplantation were 0.77±0.31,1.99±0.62,3.44±0.54,in control group and 0.37±0.42,0.88±0.20,1.04±0.33,in Astilbin group respectively with the difference between them being significant. The AI at 3,5 or 7 days post-transplantation were 4.03±1.32,8.52±1.97,9.73±6.21,in control group and 0.87±1.11,2.53±2.49,4.71±2.99,in Astilbin group respectively with the difference between them being significant.Conclusions :Apoptosis is an important mechanism of cell death in acute cardiac allograft rejection in rats. Astilbin can apparently inhibit the apoptosis of cardiac myocytes,which may be an important way of its immunosuppressive actions.