L-Carnitine Alleviates the Myocardial Infarction and Left Ventricular Remodeling through Bax/Bcl-2 Signal Pathway

Figures

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  Figure 1. LC alleviated cardiac function of post-MI mice. (a) Representative ECG images of preoperation, postoperation, and 14 days after operation. (b) Representative M-mode tracing obtained at two weeks after surgery. (c) Left ventricular internal diameter at end-diastole (LVIDd). (d) Left ventricular end systolic internal diameter (LVIDs). (e) Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). (f) Left ventricular fraction shortening (LVFS). Data were expressed as means ± SEM. n = 5; ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, and ∗∗∗p < 0.001, compared to the sham group. #p < 0.05, compared to the model group. (g) Ventricular tissue Doppler. (h) AV peak V (aortic valve peak velocity). (i) SV (stroke volume). (j) Cardiac output. (k) Heart rate. Values were expressed as means ± SEM. n = 5; ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, and ∗∗∗p < 0.001, compared to the sham group. #p < 0.05, ###p < 0.001, compared to the model group.

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  Figure 2. LC reduced the post-MI infarct size. (a) Representative images of TTC staining of cardiac sections from mice. TTC-negative staining area represented for infarct myocardium, while TTC-positive staining area referred to the myocardium that were not affected. (b) Heart weight. (c) The ratio of heart weight to whole body weight. (d) Left ventricular weight. (e) Ratio of left ventricular weight to heart weight. Data were expressed as means ± SEM. n = 5; ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001, compared to the sham group.

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  Figure 3. LC suppressed the levels of proinflammatory cytokines and ameliorated cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis of post-MI mice. (a) Representative image of H&E staining, scale bar = 500 μm in original images and scale bar = 50 μm in enlarged plots. (b) Masson's trichrome-stained heart paraffin sections: collagen was stained in blue and cytoplasm was stained in red, scale bar = 1000 μm in original images and scale bar = 100 μm in enlarged plots. (c) Levels of proinflammatory cytokines were measured after LC treatment. Data were expressed as means ± SEM. n = 5; ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001, compared to the sham group. #p < 0.05, ##p < 0.01, compared to the model group.

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  Figure 4. L-carnitine inhibited the Bax/Bcl-2 signal pathway and improved myocardial infarction. (a) Levels of biomarkers for MI were measured after LC treatment. Data were expressed as means ± SEM. n = 8; ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001, compared to the sham group. #p < 0.05, ##p < 0.01, and ###p < 0.001, compared to the model group. (b) Representative Western blots of Bax/Bcl-2 and the level of α-SMA in MI mice in the presence or absence of LC treatment. Data were expressed as means ± SEM. n = 6; ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001, compared to the sham group. #p < 0.05, compared to the model group. (c) Immunofluorescent staining of α-SMA (green) and cTnT (red) were performed, scale bar = 1000 μm in original images and scale bar = 100 μm in enlarged plots.