Effects of panax notoginseng saponins on angiogenesis and miRNA-21 expression in rats with myocardial infarction

Aim:To explore the effects of panax notoginseng saponins( PNS) on angiogenesis and VEGF,miRNA-21 expressions in rats with myocardial infarction. Methods:The left coronary artery of 108 male Wistar rats was ligated to make the models of acute myocardial infarction. All rats were randomly divided into myocardial infarction control group,low PNS group( 100 mg/kg) and high PNS group( 400 mg/kg). The microvascular density in the infarct area,VEGF protein, miRNA-21 and VEGF mRNA were detected at 3,7,14,21 day after operation. Results:At 3,7,14 and 21 day,there were significant differences in microvascular density,infarct areas,the expressions of VEGF protein,VEGF and miRNA-21 mRNA among the three groups( F microvascular density = 35. 163,42. 906,49. 510,54. 245,P 0. 001; F infarct areas = 59. 358,68. 241, 66. 350,58. 667,P 0. 001; F VEGF protein = 145. 576,164. 024,179. 349,186. 362,P 0. 001; F VEGF mRNA = 253. 542, 268. 958,315. 313,347. 914,P 0. 001; F miRNA-21 mRNA = 53. 421,67. 954,72. 358,75. 694,P 0. 001). The infarct areas decreased significantly in PNS groups while the other 3 indexes increased compared with myocardial infarction control group( P 0. 05). There were also significant differences in the above indexes between low PNS group and high PNS group( P 0. 05). The expressions of miRNA-21 and VEGF mRNA in infarct areas had positive correlation( r myocardial infarction control group = 0. 609,P = 0. 036; F low PNS group = 0. 522,P = 0. 047; F high PNS group = 0. 581,P = 0. 042). Conclusion:PNS could increase VEGF and miRNA-21 expression,improve angiogenesis and decrease infarct area after myocardial infarction.