Objective: To study the effect and mechanism of methyl protodioscin (MPD), an active ingredients of yamogenin, in protecting cardiomyocytes (CMC) against anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) injury.
Methods: Cultured CMCs of neonatal SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, cells in Group A were untreated normal cells, cells in Group B and C were made to injury CMC model by A/R, and only those in Group C were treated with MPD. Levels of ATPase activity and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in cell membrane of CMCs were determined. Besides, the mRNA expression of sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) in MPD treated CMCs was detected.
Results: As compared with Group B, the degree of CMC injury was significantly milder and the activities of Na+ -K+ -ATPase and Ca2+ -Mg2+ -ATPase were higher in Group C after cells were treated with MPD in concentration of 10 microg/mL and 50 microg/mL. The mRNA expression of NCX in CMCs was down-regulated after MPD treatment (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: MPD could maintain the low calcium internal environment in CMCs by way of protecting the membranous function of Na+ -pump and Ca2+ -pump, and influencing the Ca2+ transmembrane transportation in CMCs.