Effect of Astragalus on Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response in Vascular Remodeling in Hypertensive Rats

  Objective: To study the effect of Astragalus on the endoplasmic reticulum stress response (ERS) in vascular remodeling of hypertensive rats, and to explore the molecular mechanism of vascular protection.

  Methods: 140 rats were divided into control group, model group, intervention group. A hypertensive rat model was established by abdominal aortic stenosis. The rats in the intervention group were intraperitoneally injected with Astragalus injection 8g/(kg·d). Each group At 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks after operation, rat tail artery manometry was used to measure blood pressure and the thickness of blood vessel muscle layer. Westernblot was used to detect the expression of CRT and caspase-12. TUNEL method was used to detect vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) apoptosis rate.

  Results: Postoperative VSMC morphology changes in the model group, blood pressure, arterial wall muscular layer thickness, and VSMC apoptosis rate can increase in a time-dependent manner. ERS molecular CRT expression increased significantly at 1 and 2 weeks after surgery, and expressed at 4 and 6 weeks after surgery. However, the expression of caspase-12 molecule increased after 2 weeks, and it was delayed over time, this high expression was more significant. Astragalus intervention compared with the model group, VSMC morphology has a certain improvement, blood pressure, blood vessel wall muscle thickness and VSMC apoptosis Rates were significantly reduced, the largest reduction was at 6 weeks. At the same time, Astragalus can inhibit the early high expression of CRT and the high expression of caspase-12. This inhibitory effect becomes more obvious with the delay of time.

  Conclusion: Astragalus has a certain antihypertensive effect on hypertensive rats and can improve vascular remodeling. Its mechanism may be related to its regulation of ERS protective and pro-apoptotic factors.