Exploration of the Effect of Qihong San on Myocardial Fibrosis in Heart Failure Rats Based on the AMPK/PPARα Signaling Pathway
FAN Hui
ZHAI Xueqin
LI Jiang
WANG Xiaofeng
Abstract：Objective:To explore the effects of Qihong San on myocardial fibrosis and the adenosine 5'-monophospe-activated protein kinase(AMPK)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha(PPARα)signaling pathway in rats with heart failure.Methods:Forty-eight specific pathogen-free(SPF)male SD rats were randomly divided into the sham group,model group,Qihong San group,and Qihong San+AMPK inhibitor group,with 12 rats in each group.Except for the sham group,in all the other groups,the method of thoracic aorta constriction was used to establish the chronic heart failure model in rats.The Qihong San group was given 2 mL of 1.62 g/kg Qihong San working solution by gavage every day after the operation.The Qihong San group+AMPK inhibitor group was given 2 mL of 1.62 g/kg Qihong San working solution+500 μL of 0.15 mg/kg AMPK inhibitor working solution by gavage every day.The sham operation group and the model group were given the same volume of normal saline by gavage.Echocardiography was used to measure the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left ventricular shortening fraction(LVFS),left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD),and left ventricular end-systolic diameter(LVESD)in rats.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to detect the pathological changes of rat myocardial tissue.Masson staining was used to detect the degree of fibrosis in rat myocardial tissue.The levels of amino-terminal brain natriuretic peptide precursor(NT-proBNP),myoglobin(Mb),and cardiac troponin I(cTnI)in rat serum were detected using the kit.Western Blot was used to detect the protein expressions of α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA),type Ⅰ collagen(CollagenⅠ),typeⅢ collagen(CollagenⅢ),AMPK,phosphorylated AMPK(p-AMPK),and PPARα in rat myocardial tissues.Results:Compared with the sham group,the LVEF and LVFS in the model group decreased,while LVEDD and LVESD increased,the arrangement of myocardial fibers was disordered and the infiltration of inflammatory cells was more abundant,the levels of serum NT-proBNP,Mb,and cTnI elevated,and the protein expression levels of α-SMA,CollagenⅠ,and CollagenⅢ in the myocardial tissue increased,the protein expressions of p-AMPK and PPARα decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the Qihong San group showed significantly increase of LVEF and LVFS,decrease of LVEDD and LVESD,reduced disordered myocardial fiber arrangement and inflammatory cell infiltration,decrease of serum NT-proBNP,Mb,and cTnI levels,decreased protein expression levels of α-SMA,CollagenⅠ,and CollagenⅢ in myocardial tissue,and increase of p-AMPK and PPARα protein expression(P＜0.05).Compared with the Qihong San group,the Qihong San+AMPK inhibitor group reversed the regulatory effects of Qihong San on the above indicators of myocardial fibrosis in rats with heart failure.Conclusion:Qihong San can improve the cardiac function of rats with heart failure,inhibit the synthesis of collagen,and alleviate myocardial fibrosis.Its mechanism of action may be related to the activation of the AMPK/PPAR α signaling pathway.
Keywords：heart failureQihong Sanmyocardial fibrosisadenosine 5'-monophospe-activated protein kinase/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha signaling pathway
Publication Date：2026-03-10
Online Publishing Date：2026-03-24(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：6( 672-677 )