Oxidative Stress in the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla Contributes To Cardiovascular Regulation in Preeclampsia

Figures

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  Figure 1. Pregnancy was confirmed by vaginal smearing. Vaginal epithelial cells (red arrow) and male sperm (yellow arrow) were observed in vaginal smear after rats mating, magnification: × 100.

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  Figure 2. Cardiovascular dysfunction in preeclampsia rats. Protein concentration in 24-h urine (A), MAP (B), HR (C), and NE in 24-h urine (D) of four groups. n = 5/group, *p < 0.05 vs. Con group.

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  Figure 3. The level of oxidative stress in the RVLM in preeclampsia rats. (A) Representative confocal images of ROS in the RVLM stained by DHE fluorescent labeling (red) in four groups, Con group (a), NPS group (b), NP group (c), and PDS group (d). Scale bar, 200 μm. (B) Location of RVLM region in the standard alts of rat brain; (C) Histogram shows the fluorescence intensity of DHE fluorescence staining of the RVLM in different groups. n = 5/group, *p < 0.05 vs. Con group. (D) Quantification of superoxide anion content in the RVLM detected by lucigenin chemiluminescence (LCL) in four groups. n = 5/group, *p < 0.05 vs. Con group.

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  Figure 4. Protein expression of NOX4 and SOD1 in the RVLM. (A) The representative original protein bands (top) and quantification (bottom) of target protein NOX4 expression in the RVLM of four groups; n = 5/group, *p < 0.05 vs. Con group; (B) The representative original protein bands (top) and quantification (bottom) of SOD1 protein expression in the RVLM of four groups; n = 5/group, *p < 0.05 vs. Con group.

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  Figure 5. The effects of RVLM microinjection of Tempol on cardiovascular activity in preeclampsia. (A) Representative traces showing the responses of MAP, HR, and RSNA to microinjection of Tempol (5 nmol) into the RVLM in four groups. (B) The original picture showing the RVLM microinjection site stained by pontamine sky, and the standard alts of RVLM region in rat brainstem.

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  Figure 6. The peak changes in MAP (A), HR (B), and RSNA (C) induced by microinjection of Tempol (5 nmol) into the RVLM in four groups. n = 5/group. *P < 0.05 vs. Con.