Figure 6. Morphometric analysis of LV hypertrophy, cardiomyocyte cell cycle, and apoptosis in a pig model of IR injury.

(A) Expression of a cardiac contractile protein, α-sarcomeric actinin (red, α-SA), and a plasma membrane marker, wheat germ agglutinin (green, WGA), in the periinfarct border zone sections 28 days after MI (scale bar: 50 μm). (B and C) Markers of cardiomyocyte and LV hypertrophy showing a reduction in the treated group. (D–G) Cardiomyocyte cell cycle activity assessed by dual stainings for Ki-67 and cTnT (D and F) and for PH3 and cTnT (E and G). Data are given as means ± SEM. There were 4 animals per group. (H–K) Apoptosis in the infarct, border, and remote zones (IZ, BZ, and RZ, respectively), assessed by staining for TUNEL (red) and the pig cardiac-specific contractile protein (green, α-SA) (scale bar: 50 μm). The number of apoptotic cells did not differ between the control and treated groups in the RZ (K) but was significantly reduced in the treatment group in the IZ and BZ (I and J). Data are given as means ± SEM. There were 4 animals per group. Statistical analysis: 1-way ANOVA with Dunn’s multiple comparisons test (B, C, and I–K) and t test (F and G). *P < 0.05 vs. control; ^†P < 0.05 vs. IR (B and C); *P < 0.01 vs. control; ^†P < 0.05 vs. IR (I–K).