Although no differences were found between high - or low-dose Qiliqiangxin-treated SHRS and excipient-treated rats, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher in all three SHR groups compared to WKY rats. Table 1 shows that systolic blood pressure in SHR was significantly higher after 12 weeks of Qiliqiangxin treatment than in WKY rats (P0.05). There were no significant differences in the weight changes of WKY rats and SHR before and after treatment, while long-term Qiliqiangxin treatment significantly reduced the heart weight/weight ratio (P0.05).

Table 1 Body weight, left ventricular weight/weight ratio (LVW/BW), blood pressure and heart rate of rats at 20 weeks

Body weight, left ventricular weight/body weight ratio (LVW/BW), blood pressure and heart rate of 20-week-old rats

echocardiography

Cardiac structure and function were measured by echocardiography in each group at week 12 of Qiliqiangxin. We evaluated cardiac systolic function by combining ejection fraction and shortening fraction with LVEDD. Left atrial diameter and E/A ratio were used to assess diastolic function. Qiliqiangxin improved systolic function, reduced left atrial diameter, and significantly improved E/A ratios.

Typical echocardiograms for each group. Cardiac structure and function were measured by echocardiography in each group at week 12 of Qiliqiangxin (chronic heart failure Chinese medicine Qiliqiangxin). We evaluated cardiac systolic function by combining ejection fraction (EF) and shortening fraction (FS) with left ventricular ejection diameter (LVEDD). Left atrial diameter and E/A ratio were used to assess diastolic function. Qiliqiangxin improved systolic function, reduced left atrial diameter, and improved the E/A ratio. a (WKY), b (SHR-H), c (SHR-L) and d (SHR-c) are typical images of M-type echocardiography. e (WKY), f (SHR-H), g (SHR-L), and H (SHR-C) are typical photos with e/A ratios; i (WKY), j (SHR-H), k (SHR-L), and L (SHR-C) are typical apical four-chamber images of echocardiography. SHR control group (SHR-C; The spontaneously hypertensive rats in n=7) were treated with excipients (distilled water) alone (1ml/kg/ day); SHR high-dose Qiliqiangxin group (SHR-H; n=7) Treatment with 4g/kg/ day Qiliqiangxin; SHR low-dose group (SHR-L; n=7) treated with a low dose of Qiliqiangxin (1g/kg/ day). The WKY group consisted of seven untreated 8-week-old Wistar-Kyoto rats (normal controls). SHR-L, low dose QiliQiangxin (Qiliqiangxin) treatment in spontaneously hypertensive rats (n=7); High dose Qiliqiangxin treatment with SHR-H and SHRs (n=7); Shcr-c, SHRs vector therapy (control group) (n=7); WKY, Wistar - Kyoto rat (n=7).