Treatment with thyroid hormones and grape juice in a model of pulmonary hypertension: the response of apoptosis and inflammation

This study explored the association of cardioprotective role of thyroid hormones (TH) and benefit effects of grape juice (GJ) on vascular function against the apoptosis and inflammation associated with monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH). Wistar rats were distributed into five groups: control; PH (MCT 60mg/kg i.p.); PH+GJ (GJ-7 µL/g / day, gavage for 14 days); PH+TH (T3, 2μg/100g/day, and T4, 8μg/100g/day, by gavage for 14 days); and PH+TH+GJ. Echocardiographic, morphometric measurements and expression of proteins associated with apoptosis and inflammation were evaluated. The reduced cardiac output (35%) in PH was attenuated in the PH+GJ, PH+TH, and PH+TH+GJ groups (P