Objective: To observe the changes of myocardial tissue and plasma angiotensin II in rats with pressure overload and effect of Lujiao prescription (LJP).
Methods: Left ventricular mass index (LVMI), cardiac tissue and plasma angiotensin II were measured in the rat model with myocardial hypertrophy of congestive heart failure and pressure overload by abdominal aortic constriction by radioimmunoassay.
Results: LVMI level in the model group was obviously higher than that of the sham group (P < 0.001), while in LJP groups (both groups of low and high dose) was lowered significantly as compared with the model group. The myocardial and plasma angiotensin II levels in the model group were obviously higher than those of the sham group (P < 0.001), while those of the LJP groups were also lowered significantly (P < 0.001).
Conclusions: Cardial tissue and plasma angiotensin II in rats with myocardial hypertrophy of congestive heart failure by pressure overload were increased, and LJP could decrease them significantly. The therapeutic mechanism of LJP in treating heart failure might be related with the lowering of angiotensin II in cardial tissue and plasma so as to reduce the left ventricular hypertrophy.