Astragaloside IV alleviates myocardial damage induced by type 2 diabetes via improving energy metabolism.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect and mechanism of Astragaloside IV (ASIV) on myocardial injury induced by type 2 diabetes, with a focus on energy metabolism. Blood glucose, the hemodynamic index, left ventricular weight/heart weight (LVW/HW), the left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), the left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and cell survival rate were measured in streptozotocin-induced diabetes model rats. Western blot analysis, PCR, hematoxylin-eosin and TUNEL staining, flow cytometry and ELISA were used to detect: i) Cardiomyocyte damage indicators such as atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), cytochrome c (Cyt C), caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3 and the apoptotic rate; ii) energy metabolism indicators such as ATP/AMP and ADP/AMP; and iii) energy metabolism associated pathway proteins such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1 alpha) and nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1). The present demonstrated increased blood glucose, LVW/HW, LVSP, LVEDP and the cardiomyocyte damage indicators (ANP, BNP, Cyt C and caspase-3), in the diabetic and high glucose-treated groups, which were decreased by ASIV. The expression of NRF-1 and PGC-1 alpha significantly changed in the model group and was markedly improved following ASIV treatment. Furthermore, the abnormal energy metabolism in the model group was reversed by ASIV. According to the results, ASIV can regulate energy metabolism by regulating the release of PGC-1 alpha and NRF1 to rescue the abnormal energy metabolism caused by diabetes mellitus, thus decreasing the myocardial damage caused by diabetic cardiomyopathy.