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. 2016 May 10;6:25623. doi: 10.1038/srep25623

Figure 1. Preserved cardiac function in aged BNP knockout females.

Figure 1

(A) Noninvasive systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure measurements in Nppb−/− (n = 14) and age-matched control Nppb+/+ (n = 6); measurements were initiated at 25 days of age and monitored bimonthly through study termination at 9 months. Genotypes were assayed at the same time-point, however due to similarity of the data sets, BP lines are graphed staggered for visual ease. (B) Echocardiographic assessment of cardiac remodeling of surviving genotypes were measured at nine months, Nppb−/− (n = 5), Nppb+/+ (n = 4). (C) Representative myocardial histology of Nppb−/− and age-matched Nppb+/+ (D) and quantification of Massons Trichrome Staining at nine months (n = 5, n =  4) Nppb−/− and Nppb+/+ respectively, with cardiac sections at 40× magnification. (E) RT-PCR quantification at three months of Profibrosis associated genes; Collagen type 1a1 (Col1a1), Fibronectin-1 (Fn1), Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ), Tissue inhibitor metalloprotease-1 (Timp1), Natriuretic Peptide (NP) system associated genes; Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (Nppa), B-type Natriuretic Peptide (Nppb), Natriuretic Peptide Receptors 1 and 2 (Npr1, Npr2, respectively) and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) associated genes; Transthyretin (Ttr), Alpha Cardiac Actin (Actc), Myosin heavy chain 7 (Myh7) and Tropomyosin 1 (Tpm1) transcripts, housekeeping gene Beta Actin corrected. Nppb−/− (n = 6) and age-matched control Nppb+/+ (n = 6). *P < 0.05 vs Nppb+/+ by t test, data represent the mean ± SEM. (F) Survival curve of Nppb−/− (n = 14) and age-matched control Nppb+/+ (n = 6) over nine months; survival curve compared by log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test.