Assessment of the Protective Role of Prenatal Zinc versus Insulin Supplementation on Fetal Cardiac Damage Induced by Maternal Diabetes in Rat Using Caspase-3 and KI67 Immunohistochemical Stains

The Role of Mitochondrial Abnormalities in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is defined as the presence in diabetic patients of abnormal cardiac structure and performance (such as left ventricular hypertrophy, fibrosis, and arrhythmia) in the absence of other cardiac risk factors (such as hypertension or coronary artery disease). Although the pathogenesis of DCM remains unclear currently, mitochondrial structural and functional dysfunctions are recognised as a central player in the DCM development. In this review, we focus on the role of mitochondrial dynamics, biogenesis and mitophagy, Ca²⁺ metabolism and bioenergetics in the DCM development and progression. Based on the crucial role of mitochondria in DCM, application of mitochondria-targeting therapies could be effective strategies to slow down the progression of the disease.

Puerarin reduces ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial injury in diabetic rats via upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor A/angiotensin-1 and suppression of apoptosis

Puerarin is an active ingredient of pueraria, which has been developed for puerarin injections, used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases including arrhythmia, myocardial ischemia and hypertension. However, the molecular mechanisms of puerarin on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)‑induced myocardial apoptosis in diabetic rats are not fully understood. The present study aimed to investigate whether puerarin can attenuate I/R‑induced myocardial apoptosis in diabetic rats, and to investigate the underlying mechanism. A hemodynamic analyzing system was employed to analyze the left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), the left ventricular end‑systolic interior dimension (LVIDs) and the left ventricular end diastolic interior dimension (LVIDd). ELISA kits were used to analyze malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), tumor necrosis factor‑α (TNF‑α) and interleukin (IL)‑6 levels, NO production and caspase‑3 activity. Nuclear factor (NF)‑κB, ascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), angiotensin (Ang)‑I, phosphorylated (p)‑endothelial nitric oxide synthase protein expression was analyzed using western blot analysis. Puerarin significantly reduced the myocardial infarct area, and increased left ventricular developed pressure in diabetic rats with myocardial I/R. Oxidative stress, inflammation and nuclear factor‑κB protein expression were significantly reduced by puerarin. Furthermore, puerarin activated the protein expression levels of VEGFA and Ang‑I, and increased nitric oxide production, phosphorylated‑endothelial nitric oxide synthase protein expression and caspase‑3 activity. These results demonstrated that the myocardial protective effect of puerarin serves to reduce myocardial I/R injury, via upregulation of VEGFA/Ang‑1 and suppression of apoptosis, in diabetic rats with myocardial I/R.