The JAK2/STAT3 pathway is involved in dexmedetomidine-induced myocardial protection in rats undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass

Figures

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  Figure 1. Plasma levels of IL-6 (A) and IL-10 (B) (n=8). Groups L and H were administered with dexmedetomidine at 2.5 µg/(kg·h) and 5 µg/(kg·h), respectively. Group AG490 was administered at 10 mg/kg in 0.68 mL DMSO. DMSO was administered at 0.68 mL/kg. **, P<0.01; ***, P<0.001. CPB, cardiopulmonary bypass; L, low dose of dexmedetomidine (5 µg/kg·h); H, high dose of dexmedetomidine (5 µg/kg·h); DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide.

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  Figure 2. TUNEL-positive cells in rat myocardium (n=8). (A) Representative images of TUNEL assay in the myocardium (400×). (B) The ratio of TUNEL-positive cells in the myocardium. ***, P<0.001. CPB, cardiopulmonary bypass; L, low dose of dexmedetomidine (5 µg/kg·h); H, high dose of dexmedetomidine (5 µg/kg·h); DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide.

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  Figure 3. JAK2 and STAT3 mRNA levels in myocardial tissue (n=8). *, P<0.05; ***, P<0.001. CPB, cardiopulmonary bypass; L, low dose of dexmedetomidine (5 µg/kg·h); H, high dose of dexmedetomidine (5 µg/kg·h); DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide.

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  Figure 4. Western blot analysis of JAK2, pJAK2, STAT3, pSTAT3, and cleaved caspase-3 protein levels in the myocardial tissue (n=8). (A) Representative western blot; (B) JAK2 and pJAK2; (C) STAT3 and pSTAT3; (D) cleaved caspase-3. *, P<0.05; ***, P<0.001. CPB, cardiopulmonary bypass; L, low dose of dexmedetomidine (5 µg/kg·h); H, high dose of dexmedetomidine (5 µg/kg·h); DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide.

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  Figure 5. Analysis of pJAK2 and pSTAT3 expression by immunohistochemistry (n=8). (A) Representative images of pJAK2 expression in the myocardium (400×); (B) representative images of pSTAT3 expression in the myocardium (400×); (C) average optical density of pJAK2 and pSTAT3. ***, P<0.001. CPB, cardiopulmonary bypass; L, low dose of dexmedetomidine (5 µg/kg·h); H, high dose of dexmedetomidine (5 µg/kg·h); DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide.