Effects of Cordyceps sinensis on the Expressions of NF-κB and TGF-β1 in Myocardium of Diabetic Rats

Abstract EN

Objective.

To investigate the effect of Cordyceps sinensis (CS) on the expressions of NF-κB and TGF-β1 in myocardium of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Methods.

A total of 53 healthy male SD rats, mice age of 8 weeks and weight of 220 ± 20 g, were randomly divided into five groups by randomized block design: normal control group (n=10), diabetic group (n=10), low dose of CS group (n=12; CS 0.6 g·kg−1·d−1), middle dose of CS group (n=11; CS 2.5 g·kg−1·d−1), and high dose of CS group (n=10; CS 5 g·kg−1·d−1).

The diabetic models with tail intravenous injection by streptozotocin (45 mg·kg−1).

Diabetic rats were sacrificed after 8 weeks; the expressions of NF-κB and TGF-β1 proteins and mRNA in the cardiac muscle were determined by using immunohistochemistry staining and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method.

The data were analyzed using one factor analysis of variance.

Result.

The expressions of NF-κB and TGF-β1 proteins and mRNA in the cardiac muscle of diabetic rats were significantly raised (P<0.05), which could be decreased by CS (P<0.05).

Conclusions.

The changes on the expressions of NF-κB and TGF-β1 in myocardium may be involved in the occurrence of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DC).

CS may play its role on myocardial protection by regulating the expressions of NF-κB and TGF-β1 in myocardium.