Objective To observe the effect of moxibustion combined with benazepril on cardiac function and expression levels of myocardial interleukin-18(IL-18)

phosphorylated protein kinase B(p-Akt) in rats with chronic heart failure(CHF)

so as to explore its underlying mechanisms in improvement of CHF. Methods Fifty male rats were randomly divided into normal

model

moxibustion

benazepril and moxibustion+benazepril groups(n=10 rats per group). The CHF model was established by intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin hydrochloride solution(DOX

2.5 mg/kg) twice a week for 4 weeks. After successful modeling

the rats in the normal and model groups were fed with normal diet

and fixed on a rat plate for 20 min each time without any treatment. Mild moxibustion was applied to bilateral “Feishu”(BL13) and “Xinshu”(BL15) for 20 min each time

for 3 weeks in the moxibustion and moxibustion+benazepril groups. Rats of the benazepril and moxibustion+benazepril groups received gavage of benazepril(2 mg/kg) once daily for 3 weeks. The general behaviors of rats were observed. The ejection fraction(EF)

left ventricular diameter shortening(FS)

left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVIDd)

left ventricular end-systolic diameter(LVIDs)

heart rate(HR) and ventricular septal thickness(IVS) were examined by echocardiography. The content of serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP) was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

and expression levels of myocardial IL-18

p-Akt were detected by Western blot. Results Compared with the normal group

the EF

FS

IVS

and myocardial p-Akt expression level were significantly reduced(P<0.01)

and the LVIDd

LVIDs

HR

and serum NT-proBNP content and myocardial IL-18 expression level were significantly increased in the model group(P<0.01). In comparison with the model group

the EF

FS

IVS

and myocardial p-Akt were remarkably up-regulated(P<0.05

P<0.01)

and the LVIDd

LVIDs

HR

serum NT-proBNP content

and myocardial IL-18 expression level were significantly down-regulated(P<0.05

P<0.01) in the moxibustion

benazepril

and moxibustion+benazepril groups. Compared with the moxibustion+benazepr group

the levels of LVIDs

HR

serum NT-proBNP and myocardial IL-18 expression were obviously higher(P<0.05

P<0.01)

while the levels of EF

FS

IVS and p-Akt were significantly lower in the moxibustion and benazepril groups(P<0.01). Conclusion Moxibustion combined with benazepril improves cardiac function in CHF rats

and is superior to simple moxibustion and simple benazepril in reducing IL-18 expression and increasing p-Akt expression in myocardial tissue.