M6A levels and FTO mRNA expression in a rat model of myocardial infarction. Rats were subjected to coronary ligation or sham-operation. After 1 h, rats were sacrificed, cardiac tissue (n = 6 after ligation and n = 4 sham-operated) and blood samples (n = 5 after ligation and n = 4 sham-operated) were harvested, and remote and infarcted areas of the heart were dissected before storage. Total RNA was extracted from tissue (A–C) and blood (D–F) samples. M6A levels were assessed by LC-MS (A,D; ng/mL) and by a colorimetric ELISA (B,E; ng of m6A contained in 300 ng total RNA). FTO mRNA levels were measured by RT-qPCR and normalized by 18S (C,F). p-values for two-group comparisons are indicated.