Abstract:
Objective
To observe the effect of astragalus injection on cell apoptosis in mice with viral myocarditis and on the Caspase-3 activity.
Methods
A total of 60 male Balb/c mice(4 to 6 weeks old) were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal control group(A), model control group(B), low-dose astragalus group(C), middle-dose astragalus group(D) and high-dose astragalus group(E),12 mice in each group. After the mice model of acute viral myocarditis was made, astragalus injection was injected into the abdominal cavity of the mice in group C,D and E［0.1，0.2，0.4 mL/(g·d)］, while normal saline was injected in group A and B［0.1 mL/(g·d)］,once a day for continuously 14 days. On day 3,7,10,and 14,heart and serum samples were taken for pathological testing and the detection of Caspase-3 activity, CK-MB and cTnI.
Results
(1)Myocardial pathological score, and the value of CK-MB and cTnI of mice in group B were significantly higher than those of group A, the difference being statistical(P<0.05).(2)The Caspase-3 activity, CK-MB, cTnI value and myocardial pathological score in group C,D and E were significantly lower than those in group B, with significant difference(P<0.05).(3)There was no statistical difference on myocardial pathological score, CK-MB or Caspase-3 activity among group C,D and E(P>0.05).
Conclusion
(1)Cell apoptosis is involved in the myocardial damage of mice with viral myocarditis, and Caspase-3 plays an important role in it.(2)Small-dose astragalus injection can reduce the apoptosis of myocardial cells in mice with viral myocarditis by down-regulating the Caspase-3 activity of myocardial cells, and thus alleviate the damage to myocardial cells.

Key words: Viral myocarditis, Coxsacki virus B3, Cell apoptosis, Astragalus, Caspase-3, Mice