(A) Zymographic analysis comparing matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity in the hearts of experimental animals. (B) Relative levels of MMP-2, ProMMP-2, and ProMMP-9. (C) 26S proteasome activity in cardiac tissues from model animals. Lactacystin, a 26S proteasome inhibitor, was used as a positive control. (D) Immunoblot images of selected pro-fibrotic proteins. (E) Relative protein levels of inactive TGF-β1, active TGF-β1, fibronectin, collagen I, collagen III, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 normalized against β-tubulin level. TGF-β1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and collagen I and III bands were cropped from the same gel, and fibronectin and β-actin bands were cropped from another gel. Both gels ran simultaneously with 20 μg of each protein (n = 3/group). (F) Immunoblot images and relative protein level of total and phopho-eNOS proteins. (n = 3/group) Data represent the mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05 versus Long–Evans Tokushima Otsuka; #P < 0.05 versus Otsuka Long–Evans Tokushima Fatty.