Objective: To explore the effect and mechanism of Linggui Zhugan decoction on cardiomyocyte apoptosis caused by ischemia reperfusion in rats. Method: Forty SD rats were randomly divided into sham

model

simvastatin and Linggui Zhugan decotion group. Rats insimvastatin group were perfused with Simvastatin 20 mg·kg-1·d-1

rats in Linggui Zhugan decotion group were perfused with Linggui Zhugan decotion 50 g·kg-1·d-1

other two groups were given NS 1.0 mL·kg-1 a week before the operation. Myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury(MIRI) model was established by ligating the left descend coronary artery. After ischemia 30 min and reperfusing 2 hours

the changes in cardiomyocyte apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry

the expression of Smad3

Smad 7 protein were detected by immunohistochemical staining in cardiomyocyte. Result: Apoptosis rate and the level of Smad3 protein in model group were higher significantly than those of sham group (P＜0.01)

but the level of Smad7 protein was lower than that of sham group(P＜0.01). Apoptosis rate and the level of Smad3 protein in Linggui Zhugan decoction and Simvastatin group was lower significantly than those of model group(P＜0.01)

but the level of Smad7 protein was higher than that of model group(P＜0.01). Conclusion: Linggui Zhugan decoction can inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis in rats with MIRI

which is realized by up-regulating Smad7 protein expression and down-regulating Smad3 protein expression.