Planta Med 2002; 68(12): 1103-1107
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-36337
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Tanshinone VI on the Hypertrophy of Cardiac Myocytes and Fibrosis of Cardiac Fibroblasts of Neonatal Rats

Toshiyuki Maki1 , Yuji Kawahara1 , Kouichi Tanonaka1 , Akira Yagi2 , Satoshi Takeo1
  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, Hachioji, Japan
  • 2Department of Pharmacognosy, Fukuyama University, Fukuyama, Japan
Further Information

Publication History

Received: April 4, 2002

Accepted: June 29, 2002

Publication Date:
20 December 2002 (online)

Abstract

The possible effects of tanshinone VI (tsh), a diterpene from the root of Tan-Shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza, Bunge (Labiatae)) on hypertrophy and fibrosis in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts were examined. Tsh had no significant effect on protein synthesis, which was evaluated by [3 H]-leucine incorporation into the acid insoluble fraction in the cells, in the absence of stimulatory factors in cardiac myocytes. The amount of protein produced in cardiac myocytes was increased by 10 - 8 M endothelin-1 (ET-1), 10 - 6 M phenylephrine (PE), or 10 - 8 M insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), suggesting that hypertrophy of cardiac myocytes in vitro was induced by these factors. The ET-1-, PE-, or IGF-1-induced increase in protein synthesis was attenuated by treatment with 10 - 5 M tsh. Treatment with 10 - 5 M tsh significantly decreased the synthesis of collagen by cardiac fibroblasts, which was evaluated by [3 H]-proline incorpolation into acid-insoluble fraction of the fiblobrasts, in the absence of stimulatory factors for the production. Fetal bovine serum (FBS) or IGF-1 increased collagen synthesis in a concentration-dependent manner. The increase at 5 % FBS or 10 - 8 M IGF-1 was inhibited by 10 - 5 M tsh. Fibroblast-conditioned medium (FB-CM) increased protein synthesis in cardiac myocytes in a concentration-dependent manner (10˜ - 100 %). Tsh attenuated the FB-CM-induced increase in protein synthesis by cardiac myocytes. These results show that tsh may attenuate the humoral factor-induced hypertrophy of cardiac myocytes and fibrosis of cardiac fibroblasts. The findings suggest that tsh may improve the development of cardiac remodeling under pathophysiological conditions.

Abbreviations

ANP:atrial natriuretic peptide

DMEM:Dulbecco-modified Eagle's medium

ET-1:endothelin-1

FB-CM:fibroblast-conditioned medium

FBS:fetal bovine serum

IGF-1:insulin-like growth factor-1

PE:phenylephrine

tsh:tanshinone VI

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Satoshi Takeo, Ph. D.

Department of Pharmacology,

Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science

1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan

Phone: +81-426-76-4583

Fax: +81-426-76-5560

Email: takeos@ps.toyaku.ac.jp