Objective:To investigate the protection and mechanism of zinc sulfate combined with aspirin for acute myocardial infarction treatment. Methods:Totally 100 female SD rats were selected and randomly divided into five groups

20 rats in each group. The acute myocardial infarction model was established through ligation of the left anterior descending artery(LAD)in all groups except sham group. Different groups were given different agents

namely sterile distilled water

zinc sulfate

aspirin and zinc sulfate combination with aspirin. After 7 days

cardiac function indexes were detected through invasive cather and echocardiogram

and the blood troponin T also was detected. Then all heart tissues were harvested for HE and Masson staining. m RNA and protein expression levels of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)

cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)

superoxide dismutase-1(SOD-1) and glutathione peroxidase-4(GPX-4)were also detected. Results:Both aspirin and zinc sulfate combined with aspirin could improve cardiac function. Compared with aspirin alone

zinc sulfate combined with aspirin can significantly increase systolic pressure [(119 ± 11) mm Hg vs.(103 ± 7)mm Hg

P=0.037]

diastolic pressure [(98±4)mm Hg vs.(83±6)mm Hg

P=0.041]

average arterial blood pressure[(103±6)mm Hg vs.(89±5)mm Hg

P=0.029] and Emax[(5.27±0.33)mm Hg/μL vs.(4.13 ± 0.29)mm Hg/μL

P=0.027];decrease inflammatory infiltration and infract size

heart rate [(328 ± 11) beats/min vs.(364±19)beats/min

P=0.016]

systemic vascular resistance[(6.70±0.39)mm Hg×min/μL vs.(8.73±0.59) mm Hg×min/μL

P=0.039]

levels of troponin T[(583±51)pg/m L vs.(819±57)pg/m L

P=0.017]

moreover

levels of m RNA[(0.65 ± 0.18)vs.(1.48±0.12)

P=0.014;(0.70±0.12)vs.(1.21±0.08)

P=0.031] and protein[(2.42±0.19)vs.(3.61±0.27)

P=0.032;(1.76±0.32)vs.(5.20±0.59)

P=0.018)] of pro-inflammatory cytokine TGF-β1 and COX-2;increase the levels of m RNA[(2.14 ± 0.11)vs.(1.58±0.12)

P=0.021;(2.69 ± 0.17)vs.(1.87±0.07)

P=0.018] and protein[(5.40±0.62)vs.(2.40±0.33)

P=0.036;(4.26±0.47)vs.(2.72 ± 0.51)

P=0.023] of antioxidant enzyme SOD-1 and GPX-4. Conclusion:Zinc sulfate combined with aspirin can effectively protect acute myocardial infarction

and the main mechanism is probably through inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine TGF-β1 and COX-2

enhancing antioxidant enzymes SOD-1 and GPX-4 to protect acute myocardial infarction.