Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to explore the effect of baicalin, which is a kind of bioactive flavonoid, on blood pressure and left ventricular remodeling in rats with renovascular hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 40 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into sham-operation (n=10) and renal hypertension model groups (2-kidney-1 clip; 2K-1C, n=30). The rats in the renal hypertension model group were randomly subdivided into 2K-1C (n=13) and 2K-1C/Baicalin groups (n=14). The cardiac function indexes were determined after 4 weeks. The morphological changes in the myocardial tissue were observed using hematoxylin and eosin and Masson staining. The myocardial apoptosis was detected using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling method, and the expression of C/EBP homologous protein and caspase-3 was monitored by Western blot. The expression of GRP78 and GRP94 in myocardial cells of rats was detected by qPCR and Western blot technology. RESULTS No significant change in blood pressure was observed in the 2K-1C/Baicalin group compared with the 2K-1C group, but the indexes of left ventricular remodeling significantly improved. Pathological myocardial fibrosis and expression of fibrosis-related factors significantly decreased in the 2K-1C/Baicalin group compared with the 2K-1C group. The expression of glucose-regulated protein (GRP)78, GRP94, CHOP, and caspase-3, and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes also decreased in the 2K-1C/Baicalin group. CONCLUSIONS Baicalin has no significant antihypertensive effect, but reduced pathological changes in the myocardium, alleviated endoplasmic reticulum stress, and reduced myocardial apoptosis, reverting left ventricular remodeling in rats with renovascular hypertension.