Effect of docosahexaenoic acid on pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells apoptosis in hypoxic pulmonary arterial hypertension rats

Objective:To observe the role of docosahexaenoic acid(DHA) on anti-pulmonary hypertension in rats and on apoptosis in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells.Methods:Male Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats(200 to 250g) were randomly divided into control normoxic group,chronic intermittent hypoxic group and DHA-treated group.The hypoxic pulmonary hypertension model was made by chronic intermittent hypoxic method,mean pulmonary arterial pressure was measured by right heart catheterization,the right ventricle index was calculated through weighing the left and right ventricles accurately,the apoptosis rate of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells was determined by TdT-mediated dVTP nick-end labeling method,Caspase 3 and Caspase 9 activities were measured by activity assay kits.Results:Compared with the control normoxic group,in hypoxia group,mean pulmonary arterial pressure and right ventricular index were significantly increased(PPPPConclusions:DHA has the anti-pulmonary hypertension effect in rats,the mechanism may be associated with promoting apoptosis happening of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells.