Fig. 3. Effects of 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg2 on the apoptotic index, infarct size, and serum activities of CK-MB, AST and LDH in MI/R-induced injury. Apoptotic index, infarct size, and serum levels of creatine-MB (CK-MB), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured after 6 h of reperfusion. (A) Representative images of in situ detection of apoptotic cardiomyocytes by TUNEL staining. Green fluorescence shows TUNEL-positive nuclei; blue fluorescence shows nuclei of total cardiomyocytes (scale bar: 100 μm). (B) Representative photographs of heart sections. Pale color indicates an ischemic region and dark-red represents a non-ischemic region. The infarct size was calculated as a percentage of the ventricular mass: weight of ischemic zone/total weight of ventricle × 100%. The size of the myocardial infarct is expressed as a percentage of the ventricle area. (C) Serum activities of CK-MB, AST and LDH after 6 h of reperfusion are shown. Data are the mean ± S.D. ^##P < 0.01 vs. sham group; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 vs. MI/R group.