The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of resveratrol, a 
polyphenol present in grapes and red wine, on ventricular remodeling after 
myocardial infarction (MI) in rats. After permanent ligation of the left 
anterior descending artery, surviving rats were randomly allocated to three 
groups and treated with 1 mg/kg/day resveratrol (R-1 group), 0.1 mg/kg/day 
resveratrol (R-0.1 group), or vehicles (control group) administered by 
intraperitoneal injection once daily for four weeks. We examined the effects of 
resveratrol by echocardiography, hemodynamic studies, histologic examinations, 
and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The R-1 group had 
significantly increased fractional shortening of the left ventricle, ameliorated 
left ventricular dilatation, reduced left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, 
and reduced infarct size. In contrast, the R-0.1 group experienced no beneficial 
effects on myocardial infarction. The R-1 group also had significantly 
attenuated expression of myocardial atrial natriuretic peptide and transforming 
growth factor-beta1 mRNAs. This study indicates that resveratrol is a potent 
cardioprotective agent in MI rats. Its cardioprotective effects may be due to a 
reduction of atrial natriuretic peptide and transforming growth factor-beta1, 
which are known to protect the heart from detrimental remodeling.