Objective To study the protective autophagy mechanism of Zhenwu Decoction on cardiomyocytes in rats with heart and kidney yang deficiency.
Methods The thyroid gland was surgically removed and intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin was used to establish a rat model of yang deficiency in the heart and kidney. The natural conditions of the rats in each group were detected and recorded, and the serum triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and myocardial tissue BNP, LA and CaN contents were detected by ELISA. Western blot analysis of LC3, ATG5, P62 protein expression. The expression of LC3 and P62 in rat myocardial tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of myocardial tissue.
Results Zhenwu Decoction could reduce the content of BNP in myocardial tissue, increase the content of LA in myocardial tissue, decrease the content of CaN, increase the content of LC3, ATG5 and BECLIN1 in myocardial tissue, and decrease the content of P62.
Conclusion Zhenwu Decoction can improve the condition of heart failure caused by deficiency of heart and kidney yang, and can improve the energy metabolism of the heart. It can protect the damaged myocardial cells by regulating autophagy in the early stage of heart failure.