The Effects of Fasudil at Different Doses on Acute Myocardial Infarction in Rats.

PURPOSE To explore the effects of different doses of fasudil on cardiomyocytes in rats with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS A model of rats experiencing AMI was randomly divided into control groups and fasudil treatment groups according to the different doses of fasudil. After four weeks, hemodynamic parameters were measured. Expression levels of Rho kinase mRNA by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method and the expression levels of apoptosis related proteins, Bcl-2 and bax, were determined by the immunohistochemical method. RESULTS In the model of AMI in rats, their hemodynamic deteriorated, and the expression level of the Rho kinase mRNA increased in the myocardial tissue; but the expression level of apoptosis-related protein bcl-2 decreased, and Bax increased (p < 0.01). After the administration of fasudil, hemodynamic levels improved (p < 0.05), expression levels of Rho kinase mRNA and Bax (p < 0.01) decreased, expression levels of bcl-2 increased, and with the added element of dosage increase, the effect was significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS By administration of different doses of fasudil, the expression level of Rho kinase in myocardial tissue decreased and apoptosis reduced in rats with AMI. Fasudil plays an important role in protecting ischemic myocardium and improving cardiac function post AMI in rats, the effects of which were enhanced as the dosage was increased. KEY WORDS Apoptosis; Myocardial infarction; Rho kinase.