Grape seed proanthocyanidin alleviates left ventricular remodeling by regulating systolic pressure, oxidative stress and vasoactive substances in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Purpose: To study the effect of grape seed proanthocyanidin (GSP) on left ventricular remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats, and the underlying mechanism. Methods: Spontaneously hypertensive rats were randomly divided into two groups, with 12 rats per group. One group was injected with GSP. Systolic pressure in each group was measured at baseline (before treatment), and at 3, 6 and 9 weeks after treatment. Whole heart index and left heart index were calculated. Histopathological changes in myocardium and left ventricular posterior wall thickness of rats in each group were measured. The cross-sectional area of myocardial cells and myocardial collagen volume fraction were assessed. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), nitric oxide (NO), renin, angiotensin II (Ang II), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in each group of rats were assayed. Results: Compared with the spontaneous hypertension group, whole heart mass index, left heart mass index, left ventricular posterior wall thickness, cross sectional area of myocardial cells, myocardial collagen volume fraction, and levels of MDA, renin, Ang II and ET-1 in GSP group were significantly decreased, while the expression levels of SOD, CAT, NO and eNOS were markedly increased in GSP group (p < 0.05). Cell hypertrophy in the GSP group was significantly mitigated, when compared with that in the spontaneous hypertension group. Conclusion: GSP mitigates left ventricular remodeling in rats by reducing systolic blood pressure, improving antioxidant capacity and regulating levels of vasoactive substances, thus suggesting its potential for the management of hypertension.