Study on the Mechanism of Improving Mice with Atherosclerosis Using Dendrocrepine

Aim: To discuss Den on apoptosis and Nrf2/ARE in atherosclerotic vulnerable plaque of apolipopro-tein in E (ApoE)-/-mice. Methods: Randomly dividing ApoE-/-mice as 5 groups including Normal, Model, Den-L (10 mg/kg), Den-M (20 mg/kg) and Den-H (40 mg/kg) groups. The atherosclerotic vul-nerable plaque model was established by high-fat feeding and right common carotid artery catheter-ization (perivascular carotid collar placement, PCR), and Den was given by difference concentration Den, the pathological changes of right common carotid arery, apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle, Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 proteins expression using IHC and WB assay, Nrf2, ARE and MDA, 8-OHdG and TAC levels were detected. Results: Model group showed typical pathological changes of vulnerable plaque, the apoptosis cell number, Bax, Caspase-3 and MDA, 8-OHdG significantly increased, the Bcl-2, Nrf2, ARE and TAC levels significantly decreased (P < 0.001, respectively); Compared with model group, the plaque of Den groups were reduced and tended to be stable, the apoptosis cell number, Bax, Caspase3 and MDA, 8-OHdG levels significantly decreased, Bcl-2, Nrf2, ARE and TAC levels significantly increased (P < 0.05, respectively). Conclusion: Den improves atherosclerotic vulnerable plaque of ApoE-/-mice, which is related to the inhibition of apoptosis and Nrf2/ARE pathway.