Oxidative stress and inflammatory response induced by myocardial infarction play 
important roles in the development of sympathetic neural remodeling. The present 
study was designed to investigate whether resveratrol can improve sympathetic 
neural remodeling and hence cause less arrhythmias via its anti-oxidant and 
anti-inflammatory effects. Male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 
either vehicle or resveratrol (1 mg/kg) treatment for 4 weeks post myocardial 
infarction. Another group of sham operated rats served as controls. Cardiac 
electrophysiology examination was performed to evaluate the severity of 
ventricular arrhythmias. Sympathetic neural remodeling characterized by 
heterogeneous nerve sprouting and sympathetic hyperinnervation was assessed by 
immunohistochemistry study. Western blotting and ELISA were used to evaluate 
inflammatory responses and oxidative stress was also quantified. Resveratrol 
treatment resulted in less episodes of inducible ventricular arrhythmias which 
was closely associated with attenuated sympathetic neural remodeling (P<0.001, 
respectively). Decreased nerve growth factor (NGF) expression was also observed 
in resveratrol treated rats in the peri-infarct area at 4 weeks after myocardial 
infarction (P<0.001). Interestingly, beneficial effects of resveratrol were also 
associated with less inflammatory responses and oxidative stress. Our data 
indicated that resveratrol can suppress sympathetic neural remodeling process 
after myocardial infarction via attenuated inflammatory responses and oxidative 
stress, which in turn leads to less inducibility of ventricular arrhythmias.