Effects of Wenyangzhenshuai Granule on ERK1/2 and ERK5 activity in the myocardial tissue in a rabbit model of adriamycin-induced chronic heart failure.

Objective: To elucidate the effects of Wenyangzhenshuai granule on expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and 5 (ERK5) in the myocardial tissue using a rabbit model of adriamycin-induced chronic heart failure. Materials and methods: Rabbits were divided into heart failure positive control, adriamycin injection, and adriamycin injection with Wenyangzhenshuai treatment (low, medium and high dose) groups. Cardiac function and cardiac hypotrophy were measured in all groups. Besides, myocardial expression of ERK1/2 and ERK5 phosphorylation were evaluated by Western blotting and ERK1/2 and ERK5 mRNA levels by RT-PCR. The cardiac structure and cardiac function were also compared using histology staining and electron microscope. Results: Adriamycin injection led to cardiac failure reflected by decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS), E/A ratio, and increased cardiac hypertrophy, both of which have been improved by Wenyangzhenshuai granule treatment (all P 0.05), indicating an alteration in the activity/phosphorylation levels of these proteins instead of the transcription levels. Conclusion: we found a beneficial effect of Wenyangzhenshuai treatment in partially decelerating the progression of CHF. Such effect was probably through the role of Wenyangzhenchuan in diminishing p-ERK1/2 and raising p-ERK5 level in myocardial tissue.