Inhibition of cardiac hypertrophy by probiotic-fermented purple sweet potato yogurt in spontaneously hypertensive rat hearts

Abstract

Cardiovascular hypertrophy is a common feature of hypertension and an important risk factor for heart damage. The regression of cardiovascular hypertrophy is currently considered an important therapeutic target in reducing the omplications of hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibition of cardiac hypertrophy by probiotic-fermented purple sweet potato yogurt (PSPY) with high γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) hearts. Six-week-old male SHRs were separated randomly and equally into 4 experimental groups: sterile water, captopril and 2 PSPY groups with different doses (10 and 100%) for 8 weeks. The changes in myocardial architecture and key molecules of the hypertrophy-related pathway in the excised left ventricle from these rats were determined by histopathological analysis, hematoxylin and eosin staining and western blot analysis. Abnormal myocardial architecture and enlarged interstitial spaces observed in the SHRs were significantly decreased in the captopril and PSPY groups compared with the sterile water group. Moreover, the increases in atrial natriuretic peptide, B-type natriuretic peptide, phosphorilated protein kinase Cα and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II levels in the left ventricle were accompanied by hypertension and increases in phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 activities with enhanced cardiac hypertrophy. However, the protein levels of the hypertrophic-related pathways were completely reversed by the administration of PSPY. PSPY may repress the activation of ANP and BNP which subsequently inhibit the dephosphorylation of the nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic 3 and ultimately prevent the progression of cardiac hypertrophy.

Probiotic-fermented purple sweet potato yogurt activates compensatory IGF-IR/PI3K/Akt survival pathways and attenuates cardiac apoptosis in the hearts of spontaneously hypertensive rats

“…Hypertension induces pathological cardiac hypertrophy secondary to the pressure overload, thereby contributing to decreased cardiac function and increased cardiac apoptosis (21,22). In a previous study, we demonstrated that PSPY exerted anti-hypertrophic effects in the hearts of SHRs by interfering with the IGF-II signaling pathway and the IL-6-related-ERK5 pathway (23). In the present study, the results of cardiomyocyte loss, as shown by TUNEL assay are consistent with those of previous studies describing the gradual cardiac decompensation in SHR hearts (24).…”

Effects of Kefir on the Cardiac Autonomic Tones and Baroreflex Sensitivity in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

“…Our data show that kefir treatment of SHR was able to attenuate the impaired baroreflex sensitivity by restoring part of the cardiac autonomic activity. A possible mechanism for the beneficial effect of kefir on the vagal-mediated baroreflex sensitivity in this model of hypertension could be through the reduction of the cardiac hypertrophy as observed by using different probiotics (Lin et al, 2012 ; Gan et al, 2014 ; Gómez-Guzmán et al, 2015 ). Therefore, in addition to other non-pharmacological therapies, such as physical exercise (Ceroni et al, 2009 ), the chronic administration of the nutritional probiotic kefir appears to have beneficial actions targeting the restoration of the balance between the vagal and sympathetic activities and improving the baroreflex function in hypertensive subjects.…”

Adipokines, Myokines, and Cardiokines: The Role of Nutritional Interventions

“…These foods often contain more nutrients, such as nuts rich in both 3-n PUFA and polyphenols, and are easier to administer and could also be enriched with additional nutraceutics, such as yogurt with antioxidants. Table 5 shows some functional foods, presented in this review, that are capable of modifying the expression of adipokines, myokines, and cardiokines [52,53,79,81,83,156,157,177]. Therefore, the action of functional foods will have to be further investigated.…”

“…In rats an myocardial infarction was induced and after 6 weeks of supplementation the authors have detected an reduction of myocardial hypertrophy associated with decreased ANP levels [176] (Table 2). In the same manner, probiotic-fermented purple sweet potato yogurt supplementation improves cardiac hypertrophy downregulating ANP and BNP expression in hypertensive rat hearts [177] (Table 5).…”