Carotid Occlusion Accentuates Aortic Stenosis and Cardiac Remodeling With Preserved Systolic Function in LDL Receptor-Deficient Mice

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  FIGURE 1. Carotid occlusion accentuated aortic stenosis. (A) Measurement of carotid stenosis in mice with 300-μm and 150-μm TS in hematoxylin–eosin (H-E)-stained sections. Scale bar = 100 μm. (B) Body weights of mice. (C) Lipid profiles of the three groups of mice. (D) Serum concentrations of inflammatory cytokines in three groups of mice. (E) Determination of lesion areas in aortic root of the three groups of mice measured in H-E-stained sections. Scale bar = 200 μm. (F) Quantification of plaque burden in thoracic and abdominal aorta in three groups of mice in Oil-O Red-stained sections. (G) Quantification of the average thickness of aortic valve leaflet in three groups of mice in Masson trichrome-stained sections. Scale bar = 100 μm. (H) Quantification of maximal thickness of aortic valve leaflet in three groups of mice in Masson trichrome sections. Scale bar = 100 μm. n = 12/groups, *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001, and ****p < 0.0001. Black, red, and green columns or individual points represent sham surgery group, 300-μm TS group, and 150-μm TS group, respectively. TS, tandem surgery; TC, total cholesterol; TG, triglycerides; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HDL-C, high-density…

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  FIGURE 2. Carotid occlusion and stenosis promoted left ventricular remodeling. (A) Representative echocardiographic images of cardiac function and structure. (B–E) Cardiac function in three groups of mice. (F,G) Left ventricular volumes in three groups of mice. (H–K) The thickness of the left ventricular wall during diastole and systole. (L,M) Left ventricular diameter during diastole and systole. n = 11 or 12/groups (12 for control, 12 for the 300-μm TS group, and 11 for the 150-μm TS group), *p < 0.05, and **p < 0.01. (N) Quantification of cardiac fibrosis in three groups of mice in Masson trichrome sections. Scale bar = 200 μm. n = 10/groups, *p < 0.05, and **p < 0.01. Black, red, and green columns or individual points represent sham surgery group, 300-μm TS group, and 150-μm TS group, respectively. EF, ejection fraction; CO, cardiac output; SV, stroke volume; FS, fractional shortening; LVAWd, left ventricular anterior wall in diastole; LVAWs, left ventricular anterior wall in systole; LVPWd, left ventricular posterior wall in diastole; LVPWs, left ventricular posterior wall in systole; LVIDd, left ventricular internal diameter in diastole; LVIDs, left ventricular internal diameter in…