DIZE reduced RV systolic pressure and RV and plasma BNP
Significant increases in the right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP)
were observed in the SuPNx42 groups when compared with
the sham-operated rats (Figure 2A). Both early
(SuPNx42/DIZE1–42) and late DIZE
treatment (SuPNx42/DIZe29–42) groups
decreased the RVSP when compared with the vehicle treatment group
(Figure 2A). The Fulton index, weight ratio of right ventricle to left
ventricle plus septum (RV/LV+S), in the SuPNx42 rats was significantly
increased than the sham-operated rats, which indicated the right
ventricle was hypertrophied in the SuPNx42 animals (Figure 2B). However,
the RV/LV+S ratio in either the early or late DIZE treatment group was
not different when compared to SuPNx42 group (Figure
2B). There were no significant changes among all 4 groups in the lung or
body weight (Figures 2C and 2D).
Plasma BNP, an index of heart failure, was elevated significantly in the
SuPNx42 group compared with the sham-operated rats. In
the early treatment group
(SuPNx42/DIZE1–42), DIZE resulted in
significant decreases in plasma BNP compared to that of vehicle-treated
SuPNx42 rats, but no significant changes were seen in
the late treatment group
(SuPNx42/DIZE29–42) (Figure 3A).
Similar to the plasma BNP, RV BNP was also elevated significantly in
SuPNx42 group compared with the sham-operated rats. Both
the early treatment group
(SuPNx42/DIZE1–42) and the late
treatment group (SuPNx42/DIZE29–42)
displayed significant decreases in the levels of RV BNP compared to that
found in the vehicle-treated SuPNx42 rats (Figure 3B).