Aim To investigate protective effects of berberine on cardiac dysfunction in experimental type 2 diabetic cardiomyopathy(DC) rat model,and to explore potential mechanisms.Methods The type 2 DC rat model was induced by intraperitoneal(i.p.) injection of a small dose of streptozotocin(STZ,30 mg · kg-1) plus high sucrose-high fat diet.After 6-week treatment of berberine(at the thirteenth week),changes of left ventricular systolic pressure(LVSP),left ventricular end diastolic pressure(LVEDP),the maximum rate of...