Figure 9.

Effect of pistachios on IκB-α degradation and NF-κB expression. By Western blot analysis, a basal level of IκB-α was detected in the heart tissue from sham-operated animals (A,A1), whereas in I/R control rats, IκB-α levels were substantially reduced (A,A1). NP treatment prevented the I/R-induced IκB-α degradation (A,A1). The effect of RP on IKB-alpha was less positive. Moreover, the levels of the NF-κB p65 subunit protein in the nuclear fractions of the heart tissue were also significant increased compared with the sham-operated rats (B,B1). The levels of NF-κB p65 protein were significantly reduced in the nuclear fractions of the heart tissues from animals receiving NP as shown in (B). Treatments with RP did not provide a significant reduction in NF-κB p65 protein levels (B). A representative blot of lysates obtained from 5 animals per group is shown and densitometry analysis of all animals is reported. The results are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. from n = 5 heart tissues for each group. The results are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. from five blots. ^*P < 0.05 vs. sham, °P < 0.05 vs. I/R.