Effects of puerarin on lipopolysaccharide-induced myocardial dysfunction in isolated rat hearts

Myocardial dysfunction is a serious complication induced by sepsis. puerarin is an oriental medicine that possesses therapeutic benefits for cardiovascular diseases. the aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-myocardial dysfunction effects of puerarin in isolated rat hearts induced by lipopolysaccharide-and compare the myocardial protective effects between the different concentrations of puerarin. isolated hearts were attached to a langendorff apparatus and perfused with lipopolysaccharide (lps) and different concentrations of puerarin. the hemodynamic parameters of heart rate (hr),left ventricular end systolic pressure [lvesp],+dp/dtmax,and -dp/dtmax were recorded. the biochemical indexes of lactic dehydrogenase (ldh),tumor necrosis factor alpha (tnf-α),and creatine kinase (ck) in the coronary effluent were measured at 40,90,and 120 min of perfusion. tnf-α in myocardial tissues was measured after perfusion was completed. as a result,puerarin (0.24 mmol/l-0.48 mmol/l) significantly increased lvesp,+dp/dtmax,-dp/dtmax,and hr in isolated rat hearts that were declined by lps during perfusion periods. puerarin could protect against increased ldh,ck,and tnf-α in coronary effluent of isolated rat hearts by lps during perfusion periods. treatment of 0.48 mmol/l puerarin significantly decreased the tnf-α in coronary effluent of isolated rat hearts compared with the treatment of 0.12 and 0.24 mmol/l puerarin,but the tnf-α values were not reverted to baseline levels. however,the difference of tnf-α in myocardial tissue in the three puerarin-combined groups was statistically significant. this study confirms that puerarin can improve lps-induced contractile dysfunction in isolated heart and inhibit lps-stimulated myocardial tnf-α production.