FIG 3.

Simvastatin normalizes cardiac function in chronically T. cruzi-infected BALB/c mice. The mice were lightly sedated, and bidimensional echocardiography was performed with a Vivid-i instrument, using an iRL-RS 5- to 13-MHz transducer. (A) Representative bidimensional echocardiograms on day 80 postinfection. (B) Ejection fraction analysis at 0, 40, and 80 days postinfection. (C) Ejection fraction analysis at 80 dpi with the treatments labeled in the graph. (D) Fractional shortening at 0, 40, and 80 dpi. (E) Fractional shortening at 80 dpi with the indicated treatments. (F) Systolic left ventricular diameter at 0, 40, and 80 dpi. (G) Systolic left ventricular diameter at 80 dpi with the indicated treatments. (H) Left ventricular mass at 0, 40, and 80 dpi. (I) Left ventricular mass at 80 dpi with the indicated treatments. Data correspond to the means ± standard errors from one experiment (n = 9). One-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s posttest was used to determine significance. ***, P ≤ 0.001; **, P ≤ 0.01; *, P ≤ 0.05, for results compared with those of the infected control; ααα, P ≤ 0.001; αα, P ≤ 0.01, for results compared with those of healthy controls.