Figure 6.

Effects of CBS on RV Remodeling in Monocrotaline-Induced PAH Rats

Representative photomicrographs of RV cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area (CSA) (A; hematoxylin and eosin stain) and RV fibrosis (B; Masson staining). Representative immunoblots of RV fibrotic markers (J). CBS significantly reduced RV/body weight (BW) (D), RV/LV plus septum (LV+S) (E), and RV cardiomyocyte CSA (F) in PAH rats. CBS ameliorated RV fibrosis (G) and down-regulated the protein expression of matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2) (H) and MMP9 (I) in PAH rats. CBS also decreased the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) (K) in PAH rats. No significant differences in the parameters aforementioned were observed between the con-sham and con-CBS groups (A to L). Scale bar, 20 μm (A, B). In C to F, n = 5 to 7 for each group; in G, n = 5 to 8 for each group; in H to L, n = 3 for each group. Values are mean ± SEM. ##P < 0.01 vs con-sham and ###P < 0.001 vs con-sham; ∗P < 0.05 vs PAH-sham and ∗∗P < 0.05 vs PAH-sham; &P < 0.05 vs con-CBS and &&P < 0.01 vs con-CBS by 1-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey or Tamhane T2 post hoc test. BNP = B-type natriuretic peptide; CVF = collagen volume fraction; GAPDH = glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase; other abbreviations as in Figures 1, 3, and 4.