The mechanism of vascular adhesion molecule-1 in an ischemia-reperfusion cardia model.

Background: Vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) is involved in promoting inflammation within blood vessels, activating endothelial cells, and is a key factor in the progression of diabetic vasculopathy in rats with diabetes, contributing to the underlying pathophysiological processes. This study focused on the expression level of VCAM-1 in diabetic rats subjected to a six-week schedule of aerobic training and valerian supplements.

Methods: Fifty male Wistar rats' hearts were removed under deep anesthesia and were studied using Lutgendorf's apparatus. They were divided into five groups (10 each): Healthy control (C), Diabetic control (DC), Diabetic with valerian (DV), Diabetic with exercise (DE), and Diabetic with valerian and exercise (DVE). Diabetes was induced in the animals by administering a shot of STZ (50 mg/kg) in their abdominal area. Following confirmation of diabetes in the animals, moderate exercise five days a week, combined with intraperitoneal administration of 200 mg/kg/day of valerian, was maintained for six weeks. Heart tissue was obtained from diabetic cardiac ischemia-reperfusion model (CI/RM) injury (n=40) and control rats (n=10).

Results: VCAM-1 expression and histological parameters were not observed when comparing experimental and control groups. However, the exercise/valerian treatment (E + V) notably reduced the irregularity in cardiac tissue and increased the size of cardiomyocytes.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that E + V extract could diminish the levels of diabetic cardiac complications. Also, it had a dual effect: it corrected cardiac tissue abnormalities and increased the size of cardiomyocytes, enhancing the overall structure and function of the heart. More research is needed to understand non-pharmacological complementary treatments in this area.