Expression of N-cadherin proteins in myocardial hypertrophy in rats

The aim of the present study was to examine the expression of N-cadherin in the myocardial tissues of isoproterenol-induced myocardial hypertrophy in rats. In addition, the present study provided morphological data to investigate the signal transduction mechanisms of myocardial hypertrophy and reverse myocardial hypertrophy. A myocardial hypertrophy model was established by subcutaneously injecting isoprenaline into healthy adult Sprague-Dawley rats. The myocardial tissue was collected, embedded in conventional paraffin, sectioned and stained with hematoxylin and the pathological changes were observed. The expression and distribution of N-cadherin were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and the changes in mRNA expression of N-cadherin in the myocardial tissues of rats were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Image analysis software was used to quantitatively analyze the expression of N-cadherin. The IHC and immunofluorescence results showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the positive expression of N-cadherin. Furthermore, mRNA expression of N-cadherin, in the myocardial tissues of rats, was consistent with the IHC and immunofluorescence results. Thus, N-cadherin may have a significant function in the occurrence and development of myocardial hypertrophy.