Xiao‐Qing‐Long‐Tang Maintains Cardiac Function during Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction in Salt‐Sensitive Rats by Regulating the Imbalance of Cardiac Sympathetic Innervation

Figures

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  Figure 1. Evaluation of physical condition and cardiac function. (a) Body weight, (b) blood pressure, (c) representative electrocardiographic images, (d) PR interval, (e) heart rate, (f) LVEF, (g) IVSd, and (h) NT-proBNP were measured from different groups. The data were presented as the mean ± SD, n = 9. ∗P < 0.05, ∗∗P < 0.01 vs. the SS-13BN group; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01 vs. the DS group.

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  Figure 2. Analysis of myocardial pathology by light microscopy. (a) Representative images of H&E-stained cardiac tissue. (b) Infammatory cell infltration was assessed by analysis of the H&E staining. (c) Representative images of Masson-stained cardiac tissue. (d) Collagen volume fraction of the Masson staining (n = 9, scale bars: 50 μm).

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  Figure 3. Analysis of the expression of NA, NGF, and LIF. (a), (b) Detection of NA concentrations in left ventricle and plasma by ELISA, respectively. (c) Representative Western blot of myocardial NGF. (d) Relative protein level was calculated by band intensity against β-actin. (e) The mRNA expressions of NGF in left ventricle tissues were determined by qRT-PCR. The levels of myocardial LIF were measured by (f) Western blot, (g) band intensity against β-actin, and (h) qRT-PCR. Quantitative data are shown as the mean ± SD, n = 9, ∗P < 0.05, ∗∗P < 0.01 vs the SS-13BN group; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01 vs. the DS group.

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  Figure 4. Treatment with XQLT regulated the anatomical dominance of sympathetic nerves. (a) Double immunofluorescence of TH+/GAP43+ positive fibers in left ventricle (scale bars:50 μm). (b) Relative TH+/GAP43+ positive fibers area. (c) Representative Western blot of myocardial GAP43. (d) Relative protein level was calculated by band intensity against β-actin. Quantitative data are shown as the mean ± SD, n = 9. ∗∗P < 0.01 vs. the SS-13BN group; ##P < 0.01 vs. the DS group.

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  Figure 5. XQLT improved the functional dominance of sympathetic nerves. (a) Double immunofluorescence of TH+/CHAT + positive fibers in the left ventricle (scale bars: 50 μm). (b) Relative TH+/CHAT + positive fibers area. (c) Representative Western blot of myocardial TH and CHAT. (d) and (e) Relative protein levels of TH and CHAT were calculated by band intensity against β-actin. (f) The SGVs and SAGVs of left ventricles by transmission electron microscopy (black arrows indicate the SGV and white arrows indicate the SAGV, scale bars: 500 nm). Quantitative data are shown as the mean ± SD, n = 9. ∗∗P < 0.01, ##P < 0.01 vs. the SS-13BN group; #P < 0.05 vs. the DS group.