Relative mRNA expression of PGC-1α, mVEGF-B, and ANP after AAV9-VEGF-B186 gene therapy. AAV9-VEGF-B gene therapy increased the relative expression levels of (a) PGC-1α and (b) mVEGF-B and decreased the relative expression of (c) ANP mRNA compared with LacZ control group. mRNA expression was measured by quantitative RT-PCR and normalized to 18S ribosomal RNA. Mean ± SEM, statistical analyses with Student's t-test, n = 4/group, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. (d,e) ANP staining, bars 25 µm. AAV, adeno-associated virus; ANP, atrial natriuretic peptide; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.