Abstract: Objective: To observe the expression of apoptotic factors and collagen type I & III by recombinant adenovirus Ad-hBNP in rats’ hearts with chronic heart failure. Methods: Thirty CHF rats defined by echocardiography at 12 weeks post abdominal aortic constriction were randomly divided into Ad-hBNP group (2.5×1010 VP/mlNS Ad-hBNP 1 ml/weekx4, n=14), Ad-Track group (n=8), placebo group (NS, n=8), 10 sham-operated rats served as control group. After 4 weeks treatment, the mRNA expression of Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3 and collagen type I & III were detected by RT-PCR. Results: The mRNA expression of Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 were significantly decreased in the Ad-hBNP group [2.70±1.86, 0.75±0.30] than those in the Ad-Track group[（0. 49±0.02, P<0.01）, （0.43±0.26, P<0.05）] and in the NS group [（0.95±0.17, P<0.05）, （0.37±0.16, P<0.05）]. The mRNA expression of Bax in the Ad-hBNP group [0.86±0.17] was significantly increased than the sham group [0.70±0.07，P<0.05], but was decreased than the Ad-Track group and the NS group. The mRNA expression of collagen type I & III were also decreased in the Ad-hBNP group than the the Ad-hBNP group. Conclusion：Exogenous hBNP affected the mRNA expression of apoptosis factors in the rats’ hearts with chronic heart failure , also reduced the mRNA expression of collagen type I & III, and maybe attenuated remodeling in CHF rats.

Key words: Natriuretic peptide, brain, Heart failure, congestive, Apoptosis, Gene therapy