Effect of Crocin on cardiac function and myocardial fibrosis in rats with heart failure after myocardial infarction

Bai Zhichao; Wei Lei; Li Hefei; Guo Jing; Niu Shaoqian; Wu Yanqiang; Hou Aijun

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-4055.2024.02.06

Abstract：Objective To investigate Crocin's effect and possible mechanism on cardiac function and myocardial fibrosis in rats with heart failure after myocardial infarction.Methods The rat model with heart failure after myocardial infarction was established by ligation of the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery.Eighty model rats were randomly divided into the model group,Captopril(10 mg/kg)group,Crocin low,medium,and high dose(20,40,80 mg/kg)groups,with 16 rats in each group;another 16 rats were selected as sham operation group.After modeling,the rats in each group were given intragastric administration,once a day.Four weeks later,the cardiac function indexes[left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left ventricular short axis shortening fraction(LVFS),left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD),left ventricular end-systolic diameter(LVESD)]were detected by ultrasound imaging;the levels of cardiac troponin T(cTnT),angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ),brain natriuretic peptide(BNP)and aldosterone(ALD)in serum were determined by ELISA;the myocardial infarction size was calculated by TTC staining;the left ventricular myocardial hypertrophy index(LVHI)was calculated;the myocardial fibrosis was observed by Masson staining;the contents of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),interleukin-8(IL-8)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in myocardial tissue were determined by ELISA;the expressions of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4),nuclear factor-κB p65(NF-κB p65),transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1),Collagen Ⅰand Collagen Ⅲ were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the model group,the LVEF,LVFS were significantly increased in the Captopril group and Crocin medium and high dose groups,while the LVEDD,LVESD were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The levels of cTnT,Ang Ⅱ,BNP,ALD in serum and the myocardial infarction area,LVHI were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The myocardial fibrosis was significantly improved,and the collagen volume fraction(CVF)was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The contents of IL-1β,IL-8,TNF-α and the expressions of TLR4,NF-κB p65,TGF-β1,Collagen I,and Collagen Ⅲ in myocardial tissue were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The above effects of Crocin were dose-dependent.Except for LVHI and IL-8,the impact of the Crocin high-dose group on other indexes were significantly better than those in the Captopril group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Crocin can inhibit myocardial fibrosis and improve cardiac function in rats with heart failure after myocardial infarction,which may be related to the inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway,inflammation and extracellular matrix generation.