Shen-Fu Injection alleviates post-resuscitation myocardial dysfunction by up-regulating expression of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase

To compare the effect of Shen-Fu Injection (SFI) and epinephrine on the expression of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase 2a (SERCA2a) in a pig model with post-resuscitation myocardial dysfunction. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) was electrically induced in Wu-zhi-shan miniature pigs. After 8 min of untreated VF and 2 min of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), all animals were randomly administered a bolus injection of saline placebo (SA group, n=10), SFI (0.8 mg/kg, SFI group, n=10) or epinephrine (20 mu g/kg, EPI group, n=10). After 4 min of CPR, a 100-J shock was delivered. If the defibrillation attempt failed to attain restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), manual chest compressions were rapidly resumed for a further 2 min followed by a second defibrillation attempt. Hemodynamic variables were recorded, and plasma concentrations of catecholamines were measured. Adenylate cyclase (AC), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and the expressions of beta 1-adrenoceptor (AR) and SERCA 2a were determined. Cardiac output, left ventricular dp/dt(max) and negative dp/dt(max) were significantly higher in the SFI group than in the SA and EPI groups at 4 and 6 h after ROSC. The expression of beta 1-AR and SERCA2a at 24 h after ROSC were significantly higher in the SFI group than in the SA and EPI groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The administration of epinephrine during CPR decreased the expression of SERCA2a and aggravated postresuscitation myocardial function (P < 0.01). SFI attenuated post-resuscitation myocardial dysfunction, and the mechanism might be related to the up-regulation of SERCA2a expression.