Abstract: Objective: To investigate the expressions of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 2a (SERCA2a) mRNA and miR-25-3p/5p in myocardium of rats with heart failure and the therapeutic effects of Xiefei Lishui recipe(Traditional Chinese Medicine). Methods: SD rats were randomly divided into five groups:control group, model group, Traditional Chinese Medicine group(TCM group), captopril group and digoxin group(n=10). Heart failure rat model was induced by intraperitoneal injections of doxorubicin(6 injections within 2 weeks; total dose:15 mg/kg). Five weeks after the first injection, Distilled water(10 ml/(kg·d)), TCM(22 g/(kg·d)), captopril(19 mg/(kg·d)),and digoxin(32μg/(kg·d))were administrated by gastrogavage for 35 days,respectively. Myocardial expressions of SERCA2a mRNA and miR-25-3p/5p were detected;myocardial activities of SERCA2a were measured; cardiac output(CO) and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) and plasma level of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) were measured. Results: Myocardial mRNA expression of SERCA2a was significantly down-regulated in rats with heart failure which could be significantly up-regulated by TCM or captopril or digoxin,while expressions of miR-25-3p and miR-25-5p in myocardium were significantly up-regulated which could be significantly down-regulated by TCM or captopril. SERCA2a activity, CO and LVEF in rats with heart failure were decreased significantly which could be significantly increased by TCM,while plasma level of BNP was increased significantly which could be significantly decreased by TCM or captopril or digoxin. CO in rats with heart failure could be signifi-cantly increased by captopril or digoxin. Conclusion: In rats with heart failure, myocardial mRNA expression of SERCA2a was downregulated, expression of miR-25-3p and miR-25-5p in myocardium was upregulated. Xiefei Lishui recipecan upregulate myocardial mRNA expression of SERCA2a, downregulate expression of miR-25-3p and miR-25-5p in myocardium and improve cardiac function.

Key words: Xiefei Lishui recipe, heart failure,congestive, sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase, miRNA-25, mouse