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. 2015 Oct 22;40(3):285–291. doi: 10.1016/j.jgr.2015.09.005

Fig. 3.

Fig. 3

Effects of TG on NO, eNOS, and cGMP in pulmonary tissues in MCT-induced pulmonary hypertension rats. (A) NO levels were determined spectrophotometrically by measuring total nitrate plus nitrite (NO3– + NO2–). NO level in lung tissues decreased in MCT group compared with control group (p < 0.05). Notably, TG 40 mg/kg administration caused a significant increase in NO production (p < 0.05), whereas these effects of TG were blocked by l-NAME. (B) The expressions of eNOS in lung tissues were determined by Western blot; lanes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 represent control, MCT, TG 40 mg/kg, l-arg 200 mg/kg, and TG + L-N, respectively. MCT significantly downregulated the expressions of eNOS protein, TG 40 mg/kg restored eNOS protein expressions in MCT-injured lungs, which were blocked by l-NAME. (C) Bands were quantified using a lumino-analyzer, and the data of eNOS protein expressions were expressed as fold increases normalized to β-actin expression. (D) The eNOS mRNA levels were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR, and relative expression levels were calculated by comparison with the internal β-actin control. The eNOS mRNA expression increased significantly in MCT group, and TG 40 mg/kg and l-arg 200 mg/kg could further enhance the eNOS mRNA expression. (E) The levels of cGMP in lung tissues were determined using the radioimmunoassays. The cGMP levels in the MCT group were significantly low compared with control group (p < 0.05). TG 40 mg/kg treatment could increase cGMP level (p < 0.05) in pulmonary tissues, whereas these effects of TG were blocked by l-NAME. Results are presented as mean ± SD. a Statistical significance at p < 0.05 TG + L-N versus TG 40 mg/kg group. b Statistical significance at p < 0.05 l-a + L-N versus l-a 200 mg/kg group. * Statistical significance at p < 0.05 versus MCT group. ** Statistical significance at p < 0.01 versus MCT group. # Statistical significance at p < 0.05 versus control. cGMP, cyclic guanosine monophosphate; eNOS, endothelial nitric oxide synthase; l-a, l-arginine; l-NAME, NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester; MCT, monocrotaline; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; TG, total ginsenosides.