EFFECTS OF GINSENOSIDE RG1 ON HIF-1A, VEGF AND ET-1 EXPRESSION IN MICE WITH CHRONIC INTERMITTENT HYPOXIA

Abstract

Objective: Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is related to pulmonary hypertension and currently lacks effective early intervention approaches. We intend to assess whether ginsenoside Rg1 ameliorates pulmonary small artery damage of CIH in mice. Methods: 72 SPF-grade mice were assigned into an experimental group, which received ginsenoside Rg1 10 mg/kg (low dose group, group T1) and 20 mg/kg (high dose group, group T2) daily, and control group (group C) (treated with normal saline every day). Samples were collected on days 7, 10 and 14 after treatment to assess HIF-1a, VEGF and ET-1 protein level by immunohistochemical staining, serum level by ELISA, as well as the mRNA level by real-time PCR. Results: Control group presented significantly increased serum levels of HIF-1a, VEGF and ET-1 from days 7 to 14, whereas treatment group showed decreased serum levels of above indicators (P<0.05). Consistently, immunohistochemical staining showed increased trend of HIF-1a, VEGF and ET-1 IOD values in control group, which were all decreased in treatment group at the same time points with lower levels in T2 group than T1 group (P<0.05). Moreover, HIF-1a, VEGF and ET-1 mRNA levels in groups C, T1 and T2 also showed consistent results with the immunohistochemical staining (P<0.05 or P<0.001). After treatment, HIF-1a was positively correlated with VEGF or ET-1 and VEGF was positively correlated with ET-1. Conclusions: Ginsenoside Rg1 inhibits HIF-1a, VEGF and ET-1 level in CIH mice.