Effects of ganoderma spores on apelin expression in rats with myocardial ischemia injury induced by isoproterenol

AIM: To investigate the changes of apelin in blood and myocardium, and the protective mechanisms of ganoderma spores on myocardial ischemia injury induced by isoproterenol in rats. METHODS: The model of myocardial ischemia injury was induced by subcutaneous injection of high dose isoproterenol. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the apelin contents in blood and myocardium. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to measure the apelin mRNA level in myocardium. Electron microscope was used to observe the pathomorphological changes of myocardium. Ganoderma spores was administered i.g. for 7 weeks. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, the apelin contents in blood and myocardium and the apelin mRNA level in myocardium were significantly decreased in the model group (P＜0.01). Compared with the model group, the apelin contents in blood and myocardium and the apelin mRNA level in myocardium were obviously elevated in the ganoderma spores groups (P＜0.01 or P＜0.05). Meanwhile, the NO contents in blood and myocardium were also obviously elevated. The pathological damage of myocardium was obviously relieved. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the protective mechanisms of ganoderma spores on myocardial ischemia injury may be related to the elevation of apelin contents and the mRNA level.