Luteolin reduces cardiac damage caused by hyperlipidemia in Sprague-Dawley rats

Figures

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  Fig. 1. Luteolin ameliorates hyperlipemia-induced cardiac dysfunction. (A) Representative left ventricular m-mode echocardiography; (B) LVEF and FS were evaluated via echocardiography. Data are presented as mean ± SEM; n = 6 per group. *P < 0.05 vs HFD group.

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  Fig. 2. Metabolic data derived from three groups of rats that were fed different diets. The heart/body weight values and TC, low-density lipoprotein, and TG concentrations of the three groups of rats were evaluated after 12 weeks. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM; n = 6 per group. #P < 0.05 vs ND group, *P < 0.05 vs HFD group.

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  Fig. 3. Morphological changes in the cardiac tissues of three groups of rats fed different diets. (A) H&E, Masson, and PAS staining were performed to assess histopathological damage in the cardiac tissues of rats fed different diets for 12 weeks. Arrows indicate damage. (B) Bar graph showing cells positive under Masson and PAS staining. Data are presented as mean ± SEM; n = 3 per group. *P < 0.05 vs HFD group.

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  Fig. 4. Collagen I, collagen III, and TGF-β expression in the cardiac tissues of three groups of rats fed different diets. (A) Representative immunohistochemical staining for collagen I, collagen III, and TGF-β. Arrows indicate positively stained cells. (B) Bar graph showing collagen I, collagen III, and TGF-β positive cells. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM; n = 3 in each group. *P < 0.05 vs HFD group. (C) Immunoblotting for collagen I, collagen III, and TGF-β protein expression in cardiac tissues. (D) The bar graph shows the quantification of collagen I, collagen III, and TGF-β protein expression. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM; n = 3 in each group. *P < 0.05 vs HFD group.

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  Fig. 5. MMP2 and MMP9 expression in the cardiac tissues of three groups of rats fed different diets. (A) Relative mRNA expression levels of MMP2 and MMP9 in the cardiac tissues of each group were measured after 12 weeks. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM; n = 6 in each group. *P < 0.05 vs HFD group. (B) Representative immunohistochemical staining for MMP2 and MMP9. Arrows indicate positively stained cells. (C) Bar graph showing MMP2 and MMP9 positive cells. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM; n = 3 in each group. *P < 0.05 vs HFD group.

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  Fig. 6. CD36 and LOX-1 expression in the cardiac tissues of three groups of rats fed different diets. (A) Representative immunohistochemical staining for CD36 and LOX-1. Arrows indicate positively stained cells. (B) Bar graph showing CD36 and LOX-1 positive cells. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM; n = 3 in each group. *P < 0.05 vs HFD group. (C) Immunoblotting for CD36 and LOX-1 protein expression in cardiac tissues. (D) The bar graph shows the quantification of CD36 and LOX-1 protein expression. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM; n = 3 in each group. *P < 0.05 vs HFD group, **P < 0.01 vs HFD group.

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  Fig. 7. Schematic representation of the mechanism by which luteolin protects against cardiac damage induced by hyperlipidemia.