Figure 3.

Verapamil does not prevent cardiomyopathy in dystrophin-deficient mdx mice. (a) Levels of cTnI in verapamil-treated versus untreated mdx mice. Both groups of mice show elevations of cTnI levels in the serum. (b) Histological analysis of hearts from mdx mice after treatment with verapamil reveals areas of fibrosis in both groups of mice. (c) Immunohistochemical expression of β-sarcoglycan, δ-sarcoglycan, sarcospan, and β-dystroglycan is preserved in vascular smooth muscle of coronary arteries of mdx mice. In contrast, the SG-SSPN complex is absent in vascular smooth muscle of Sgcb-null mice. Note that utrophin is expressed at similar levels in wild-type, mdx, and Sgcb-null mice. β-SG, β-sarcoglycan; δ-SG, δ-sarcoglycan; β-DG, β-dystroglycan; DYS, dystrophin; and UTR, utrophin. Bar, 20 μm.