Effects of Total Flavone from Rhododendron simsii Planch. Flower on Postischemic Cardiac Dysfunction and Cardiac Remodeling in Rats

Figures

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  Figure 1. Effects of TFR on the cardiac weight index (heart weight to body weight index, HWI) after MI in rats. (a) The photographs of representative hearts from different groups. (b) Effects of TFR on HWI. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM. ∗P < 0.05 and ∗∗P < 0.01, compared with the sham group; #P < 0.05 and ##P < 0.01, compared with the model group.

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  Figure 2. Effects of TFR on the cardiac function after MI in rats. (a) M-mode echocardiographic images for each group before and after drug administration. (b) Effect of TFR on parameters of cardiac function. LVIDd: left ventricular internal dimension at diastole; LVIDs: left ventricular internal dimension at systole; LVFS: left ventricular fractional shortening; LVEF: left ventricular ejection fraction; LVPWd: left ventricular posterior wall thickness at diastole; LVPWs: left ventricular posterior wall thickness at systole. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM. ∗P < 0.05 and ∗∗P < 0.01, compared with the sham group; #P < 0.05 and ##P < 0.01, compared with the model group.

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  Figure 3. Effects of TFR on myocyte hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis in rats with ventricular remodeling after MI. (a) HE staining of myocardium in the noninfarcted area. (b) Interstitial fibrosis in the noninfarcted area was evaluated by picric acid Sirius Red staining. (c) Quantitative analysis of cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area and ratio of fibrotic area (red) to total area. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM. ∗P < 0.05 and ∗∗P < 0.01, compared with the sham group; #P < 0.05 and ##P < 0.01, compared with the model group.

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  Figure 4. Effects of TFR on expressions of fibrosis-related factors proteins in the noninfarcted cardiac area. (a–d) The western blot analysis of collagen type I (collagen I), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Data are presented as the mean ± SEM. ∗∗P < 0.01, compared with the sham group; #P < 0.05 and ##P < 0.01, compared with the model group.

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  Figure 5. Effects of TFR on the activation of UTR-RhoA/ROCK pathway in the noninfarcted cardiac area. (a–d) The western blot analysis of U-II receptor (UTR), GTP-RhoA (GTP-binding RhoA), ROCK1, and ROCK2. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM. ∗∗P < 0.01, compared with the Sham group; #P < 0.05 and ##P < 0.01, compared with the Model group.