Protective effects of irbesartan and benazepril against vaginal vascular remodeling and fibrosis in female spontaneously hypertensive rats

Figures

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  Figure 1.. Schematic diagram of renin angiotensin system and the effects of angiotensin II receptor 1 blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. ACEI, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor; ARB, angiotensin II receptor 1 blocker; AT1R, angiotensin II receptor 1; AT2R, angiotensin II receptor 2; AT3R, angiotensin II receptor 3; AT4R, angiotensin II receptor 4.

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  Figure 2.. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of the mRNA expression levels of renin angiotensin system components in vaginal tissues from the WKY and SHR rats. mRNA levels of (a) Angiotensin converting enzyme, (b) angiotensin converting enzyme 2, (c) angiotensin II receptor 1, (d) angiotensin II receptor 2, and (e) Mas receptor. Graphs based on densitometric analysis of mRNA levels normalized to the expression of β-actin. ACE, angiotensin converting enzyme; ACE2, angiotensin converting enzyme 2; AT1R, angiotensin II receptor 1; AT2R, angiotensin II receptor 2; MasR, Mas receptor. *P<0.05 vs. SHR, #P<0.05 vs. WKY, §P<0.05 vs. SHR + Irb.

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  Figure 3.. Western blot analysis of the protein expression levels of renin angiotensin system components in vaginal tissues from WKY and SHR rats. (a) Western blot. Graphs based on densitometric analysis normalized to the expression of β-actin for (b) angiotensin converting enzyme, (c) angiotensin converting enzyme 2, (d) angiotensin II receptor 1, (e) angiotensin II receptor 2, and (f) Mas receptor angiotensin converting enzyme 2. ACE, angiotensin converting enzyme; ACE2, angiotensin converting enzyme 2; AT1R, angiotensin II receptor 1; AT2R, angiotensin II receptor 2; MasR, Mas receptor. *P<0.05 vs. SHR, #P<0.05 vs. WKY, §P<0.05 vs. SHR + Irb.

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  Figure 4.. Western blot analysis of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen III (Col III), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in vaginal tissues from WKY and SHR rats. (a) Western blot. Graphs based on densitometric analysis of (b) α-SMA, (c) Col III, and (d) eNOS normalized to the expression of β-actin. *P<0.05 vs. SHR, #P<0.05 vs. WKY.

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  Figure 5.. Coronal sections of lower vaginal tissues stained with hematoxylin and eosin (×200). (a) WKY, (b) SHR, (c) SHR + Irb, and (d) SHR + Ben groups. (e) Wall/lumen thickness ratio of arterioles in the vaginal wall *P<0.05 vs. SHR, #P<0.05 vs. WKY.

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  Figure 6.. Immunohistochemical analysis of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in vaginal arterioles (×200). (a) WKY, (b) SHR, (c) SHR + Irb, and (d) SHR + Ben groups. (e) α-SMA expression in the arterioles in the vaginal walls. *P<0.05 vs. SHR, #P<0.05 vs. WKY.

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  Figure 7.. Immunohistochemical analysis of collagen III (Col III) in vaginal tissue (×200). (a) WKY, (b) SHR, (c) SHR + Irb, and (d) SHR + Ben groups. (e) Col III expression in vaginal tissue. *P<0.05 vs. SHR, #P<0.05 vs. WKY.

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  Figure 8.. Masson trichrome staining of vaginal tissue (×200). (a) WKY, (b) SHR, (c) SHR + Irb, and (d) SHR + Ben groups. (e) Collagen deposition in vaginal tissue. IOD, integrated optical density. *P<0.05 vs. SHR, #P<0.05 vs. WKY.