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. 2020 Jul 30;21(15):5450. doi: 10.3390/ijms21155450

Figure 3.

Figure 3

Sexual interaction is associated with improved myocardial contractile function in male mice with dilated cardiomyopathy. (A) Representative cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images of DCM-S (132 days) versus DCM+S (148 days) showing the presence of ventricular and atrial dilation in DCM-S (panel a) versus DCM+S (panel b). Left atrium (LA) with thrombus; right atrium (RA); left ventricle (LV); right ventricle (RV). White contrast indicates blood flow. (B) Percentage of mice with left atrial appendage thrombus (LAAT). LAAT was not detected in any control mice without DCM. (C) Representative two-dimensional-guided LV short-axis M-mode images (mm scale on the right y-axis). (D) Ejection fraction (EF). (E) Cardiac output (CO). (B–E) Groups were male dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) mice with sexual activity (DCM+S) vs. without sexual activity (DCM-S) on a normal (ND) or breeding diet (BD) as measured at 20 weeks of age, corresponding to Stage D heart failure. The number of DCM mice per group is shown and the values for control mice without DCM are indicated by dashed lines (n = 7–13). Data are mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM); * p < 0.05, ns = non-significant.