Radix Angelica Sinensis and Radix Hedysari Ultrafiltration Extract Protects against X‐Irradiation‐Induced Cardiac Fibrosis in Rats

Figures

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  Figure 1. RAS-RH protects cardiac tissue from X-irradiation-induced injury and inflammation. (a) Representative images of hematoxylin & eosin staining for hearts from con, as well as X-ray and RAS-RH + X-ray groups mice after 30 days of RAS-RH treatment. (b) Representative images of Masson's trichrome staining of heart sections obtained from the three experimental groups. Blue staining indicates the deposition of collagen (400 × magnification). (c), (d), (e) Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis of TnT, serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and TGF-β1 amount, respectively (n = 3, ∗P < 0.05,∗∗P < 0.01 vs. the control group; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01 vs. the X-ray group).

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  Figure 2. RAS-RH regulates the mRNA levels of microRNA-200a, COL1α, TGF-β1, and Smad3. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis of microRNA-200a (a), COL1α (b), and TGF-β1 and Smad3 (c) mRNA levels in the Con, X-ray, and RAS-RH + X-ray groups (n = 3, ∗P < 0.05,∗∗P < 0.01 vs. the control group; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01 vs. the X-ray group).

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  Figure 3. RAS-RH regulates the protein expression of TGF-β1, Smad3, and COL1α. (a) Western blotting images indicate the TGF-β1, Smad3, and COL1α protein expression in the Con, X-ray, and RAS-RH + X-ray groups. (b) Relative TGF-β1 and Smad3 protein expression levels were analyzed by Image-Pro Plus 6.0. (c) Relative COL1α protein expression levels were analyzed by Image-Pro Plus 6.0 (n = 3, ∗P < 0.05,∗∗P < 0.01 vs. the control group; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01P < 0.01 vs. the X-ray group).

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  Figure 4. RAS-RH prevents X-irradiation-induced oxidative stress. ELISA analysis for serum ROS content in the Con, X-ray, and RAS-RH + X-ray groups (n = 3, ∗P < 0.05,∗∗P < 0.01 vs. the control group; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01 vs. the X-ray group).

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  Figure 5. RAS-RH induces apoptosis in primary rat cardiac fibroblasts after X-irradiation. (a) Flow cytometry analysis of primary rat cardiac fibroblast apoptosis in the Con, X-ray, and RAS-RH + X-ray groups. (b) The bar graph shows a statistical analysis of image (a) results. (c) Western blotting images for TNF-α and caspase-3 protein expression in the Con, X-ray, and RAS-RH + X-ray groups. (d) Relative TNF-α and caspase-3 protein expression levels were analyzed by Image-Pro Plus 6.0. (e) Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis of TNF-α and caspase-3 mRNA levels (n = 3, ∗P < 0.05,∗∗P < 0.01 vs. the control group; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01 vs. the X-ray group).