FIGURE 3.

Recombinant Klotho prevents contractile cellular dysfunction and reduction in systolic Ca²⁺. (A) Schematic design of chronic kidney disease (CKD) animal model (5/6 nephrectomy) and treatments. (B) Mean values of ejection fraction (EF) from Sham (N = 5 mice), Nfx (N = 5 mice), Sham+rKL (N = 5 mice), and Nfx+rKL (N = 5 mice) mouse hearts. (C) Cell shortening profiles of cardiomyocytes. (D) Percentage of cell contraction of Sham (n = 52 cells/N = 5 mice), Nfx (n = 73 cells/N = 6 mice), Sham+rKL (n = 62 cells/N = 5 mice), and Nfx+rKL (n = 48 cells/N = 6 mice). (E) Line‐scan images and fluorescence profiles of cardiomyocytes under 2‐Hz field stimulation. (F and G) Mean values of peak (F/F ₀) (F) and time of decay (Tau) (G) of electrically evoked Ca²⁺ transients in Sham (n = 54 cells/N = 5 mice), Nfx (n = 77 cells/N = 6 mice), Sham+rKL (n = 67 cells/N = 5 mice), and Nfx+rKL (n = 49 cells/N = 6 mice). Data shown mean ± SEM. ^* P < 0.05, significantly different from Sham; ^# P < 0.05, significantly different from Nfx