Effects of aerobic exercise combined with safflower yellow on cardiovascular remodeling and myocardial ion channels in hypertensive rats
YAO Shang
PENG Jiecheng
HOU Huiying
CHEN Xi
WU Wanshi
Abstract：Objective To investigate the effects of aerobic exercise(AE)combined with safflower yellow(SY)on cardiovascular remodeling,ion channels in cardiomyocytes,and the transforming growth factor β(TGF-β)/Smad signaling pathway in hypertensive rats.Methods Eight normotensive rats were selected as the control group.Thirty-two spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHRs)were randomly divided into a hypertensive group,an AE group(AE training),a safflower yellow group(gavage administration of 50 mg/kg SY),and combined intervention group(aerobic exercise training+SY),with 8 rats in each group.A non-invasive rat tail artery blood pressure monitor was used to measure systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP),and mean arterial pressure(MAP).The total heart weight and left ventricular weight were measured to calculate heart weight index(HWI)and left ventricular weight index(LVWI).Patch-clamp technique was employed to detect the density of L-type calcium channel current(ICa-L)and transient outward potassium current(Ito).HE staining and Masson staining were performed to observe the pathological changes in myocardial tissue.Western blot analysis was applied to detect the expression of key proteins in the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.Results Compared with the control group,the SBP,DBP,MAP,HWI,LVWI,amplitude of ICa-L density,and expression levels of TGF-β1,p-Smad2,and p-Smad3 were significantly increased,while the Ito expression was significantly decreased in the hypertensive group,AE group,SY group,and combined intervention group;the Smad7 expression was obviously decreased in the other three groups except the combined intervention group(P<0.05).The AE group,SY group,and combined intervention group exhibited significantly reduced SBP,DBP and MAP,HWI,LVWI,amplitude of ICa-L density,and expression of TGF-β1,p-Smad2,and p-Smad3,whereas elevated Ito density and Smad7 expression when compared with the hypertensive group(P<0.05).Combined intervention of AE and SY resulted in more significant decreases in SBP[135.82±5.47 mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)vs 152.45±6.23 mm Hg and 148.72±5.89 mm Hg,P<0.05],DBP(88.45±3.78 mm Hg vs 98.34±4.56 mm Hg and 96.67±4.32 mm Hg,P<0.05)and MAP(104.91±4.63 mm Hg vs 116.71±5.42 mm Hg and 114.36±5.18 mm Hg,P<0.05),HWI,LVWI,amplitude of ICa-L density,and the expression levels of TGF-β1,p-Smad2,and p-Smad3,as well as more remarkable increases in Ito density and Smad7 expression in comparison with the AE group and the SY group(P<0.05).Conclusion Combination of AE and SY can reduce blood pressure,alleviate cardiac remodeling,regulate the function of myocardial cell ion channels,and inhibit the overactivation of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.
Keywords：hypertensiontransforming growth factor betaaerobic exercisesafflower yellow
Publication Date：2026-02-15
Online Publishing Date：2026-03-11(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：6( 244-249 )