Effects of Qindan Capsule (芩丹胶囊) on Blood Pressure, Endothelin, Calcitonin Gene-related Peptide and Angiotensin-Ⅱ in Spontaneous Hypertensive Rats

Objective： To observe the hypotensive effects of Qindan Capsule （芩丹胶囊, QC） on spontaneous hypertensive rats （SHR） and its effect on the contents of endothelin （ET）, calcitonin gene-related peptide （CGRP） and angiotensin-Ⅱ （Ang-Ⅱ ） in plasma and vascular tissues, and to investigate the possible mechanism of QC in lowering blood pressure. Methods： Forty SHRs were divided into 5 groups： the high dosage QC group [QCHD, 750 mg/（kg.d） ], the low dosage QC group [QCLD, 150 mg/（kgd） ], the Niuhuang Jiangya Pill group [牛黄降压丸,, NJP, 200 mg/（kg.d）], the Captopril group [ 15 mg/（kgd）]and the model group, 8 in each group. Meanwhile, a normal control group consisting of 8 Wistar-Kyoto （WKY） rats was set up also. All the rats were administered with medicine level of ET, CGRP and Ang-Ⅱ in plasma and Ang-Ⅱ rats after 12 weeks of treatment. Results： The leve through gastrogavage. Systolic blood pressure （SBP）, in tissues of mesenteric artery were detected in all the of SBP after treatment in the QCHD group was lower than that in the model group （ P〈0.01 ）, but with no significant difference as compared with that in the Captopril group and the NJP group （P〉0.05）. After treatment, the plasma level of ET was lower and CGRP higher than those in the model group （both P〈0.05）, and also higher than those in the NJP and Captopril group （both P〈0.05）. As for the content of Ang- Ⅱ , in mesenteric arterial tissues, it was lower in the QCHD group than that in the model group （ P〈0.05）, but in plasma, it showed no significant difference between the two groups （P〉0.05）. Conclusion： QC has a satisfactory hypotensive action on SHR rats, and its mechanism may be associated with the regulation on plasma vasoactive peptide and regional renin-angiotensin system.

Qindan Capsule(芩丹胶囊) Changes Adventitial Collagen Synthesis in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Objective： To investigate the effect of Qindan Capsule （芩丹胶囊, QC） on collagen synthesis and the mechanism underlying the process in spontaneously hypertensive rats （SHRs）. Methods： Twenty- four SHRs were divided into three groups： the hypertension model group, the QC treatment group, and the Iosartan treatment group. Eight Wistar Kyoto （WKY） rats were used as the normal control group. The systolic blood pressure （SBP） of the rats was monitored, and the thoracic aorta adventitia of the rats was segregated. The expressions of transforming growth factor 1 （TGF-β 1）, Smad3, and collagens ⅠandⅢ were measured by histological staining and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results： The SBP was significantly higher in the model group than in the normal control group （P〈0.01）. However, a significant SBP-Iowering effect was observed in QC or Iosartan treatment groups （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01） after 3 weeks of treatment. QC- treated rats showed a decrease of approximately 40 mm Hg, and the Iosartan-treated rats showed a decrease of approximately 50 mm Hg at the end of treatment compared with the beginning of treatment. The protein and gene levels of TGF- β 1, Smad3, and collagens Ⅰ andⅢ in the model group were significantly increased compared with those in the normal control group （P〈0.01）. However, the levels were significantly decreased in the QC or Iosartan treatment group compared with the model group （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）. However, there was no significant difference between the QC and Iosartan treatment groups （P〈0.05）. Conclusions： QC could exert its antihypertensive effect through down-regulating TGF- β 1-stimulated collagen expressions. The TGF- β 1/Smad3 signaling pathway may be involved in this process.