FIGURE 4.

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)10 overexpression reverses cigarette smoke (CS)-induced pulmonary hypertension in mice. a) Right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) (n=6–12), b) tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (n=5–12) and c) weight ratio of right ventricle (RV) and left ventricle plus septum (LV+S) (n=6–12), measured in CS- or room air (RA)-exposed mice that were subsequently fed with standard feed (control) or feed containing doxycycline (FGF10) for 1, 5 or 12 weeks. No significant changes in LV+S mass were detected between analysed groups. d) Representative images of pulmonary vessels (brown: von Willebrand factor; purple: α-smooth muscle actin; green: nuclei) and quantification of average vessel muscularisation in lungs of experimental animals (n=5–6). Analysis was performed in pulmonary vessels with a diameter of 20–70 µm and results are shown as percentage of vessel circumference positive for α-smooth muscle actin staining. In the quantification panels each dot represents a measurement obtained from one individual experimental animal. The mean value for each group is represented by a horizontal line (±sd). Statistical analysis: two-way ANOVA; p-values for each comparison and interaction are given in the graph. Bold type represents statistical significance.