Background: Resveratrol (RES) is a polyphenolic compound and natural phytoalexin that plays a potential role in various human diseases. Studies have confirmed that RES has an important function in cardioprotection.
Objectives: To investigate the effect of RES on HO-1 protein expression in rat heart after different duration of hypothermic preservation.
Material and methods: The Langendorff model of isolated rat heart was used. After being stored in 4°C different Celsior solution for 9 h, Sprague-Dawley rats hearts were divided into 6 groups randomly: control group, 9 h group, 3 μM RES group, 10 μM RES group, 30 μM RES group, and 100 μM RES group. The morphological changes of cardiomyocytes were detected with the hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) staining using a light microscope. The mRNA and protein expression of HO-1 were detected using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting.
Results: Compared with the control group, cardiomyocytes were obviously injured in the 9 h group and the protein and mRNA expression of HO-1 were obviously decreased. Compared with the 9 h group, the mRNA and protein expression of HO-1 were increased in dose-dependent manner in the 3 μM RES, 10 μM RES and 30 μM RES group. Compared with the 9 h group, rat myocardial injury was gradually alleviated in 3 μM RES, 10 μM RES and 30 μM RES groups. However, the rat myocardial injury in the 100 μM RES group showed no more obvious improvement than in the 30 μM RES group.
Conclusions: In the isolated rat heart, RES protects cardiomyocytes against hypothermic preservation injury through increasing HO-1 protein expression.
Keywords: HO-1; heart preservation; resveratrol.