l-Lys suppresses apoptosis of VSMCs in adenine rats. Apoptosis of the aorta is assessed by TUNEL staining (A) and Western blotting (B). (A) Thoracic aortae are TUNEL stained in brown. Representative micrographs from group LP (a), group Ade (b), group Gly (c), and group Lys (d) are shown (n=6–7 in each group). (B) Using anti-cleaved caspase-3 antibody, thoracic aortic tissues are subjected to Western blot analysis. Three independent experiments show similar results. Scale bar, 100 μm.