Evaluation of Collagen Fibers, MMP2, MMP9, 8-OHdG and Apoptosis in the Aorta of Ovariectomized LDL Knockout Mice Submitted to Aerobic Exercise

Figures

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  Figure 1. Mouse aorta cross-sections showing the arrangement of elastic fibers. The control groups showed a similar pattern of arrangement and thickness of the elastic fibers. The LDL KO groups showed more spaced fibers and thicker vessel walls compared to the controls. Photomicrographs, H&E. Calibration Bar = 100 µm. Sedentary control (S-C), ovariectomized sedentary control (OS-C), ovariectomized trained control (OT-C), sedentary LDL KO (S-LDL KO), ovariectomized sedentary LDL KO (OS-LDL KO) and ovariectomized trained LDL KO (OT- LDL KO).

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  Figure 2. Thickness of the tunica media-intima (µm) in the studied groups. Values are expressed as M ± SD *p < 0.05 vs. S-C; #p < 0.05 vs. OS- C; +p < 0.05 vs. OT-C; ¹p < 0.05 vs S-LDL KO; 2p < 0.05 vs OS-LDL KO.

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  Figure 3. Volume density of types I and III collagen fibers (Vv[cf]) in Intima-Media and Adventitia Tunica of ascendant aorta. Values are expressed as M ± SD. *p < 0.05 vs. S-C; #p < 0.05 vs. OS-C; +p < 0.05 vs. OT-S.

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  Figure 4. Photomicrographs of cross-sections of the aorta of mice submitted to immunohistochemical reaction for 8-OHdG. The immunoexpression of 8-OHdG was observed in all investigated groups. The staining was moderate for LDL KO and Control groups, both the S and the OS. However, for the O and T groups, the observed staining was intense. Calibration bar = 100 µm.

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  Figure 5. Photomicrographs of cross-sections of the ascending aorta of mice submitted to immunohistochemical reaction for MMP-2. Note the presence of MMP-2 immunoexpression in the tunica intima (arrow) and adventitia (arrowhead) in all control groups (S-C, OS-C and OT-C). In general, the MMP-2 immunoexpression in the LDL KO groups was observed in the intima and adventitia layers, as well as in the middle layer of the aorta (*), which did not occur in any animal of the control groups. Calibration bar: 100 µm.

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  Figure 6. Photomicrographs of cross-sections of the ascending aorta of mice submitted to immunohistochemical reaction for MMP-9. Note the presence of immunoexpression in all layers, heterogeneously, in all groups. Calibration bar: 100 µm.

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  Figure 7. Relative frequency (%) of apoptotic cells in the ascending aorta of the control sedentary group (S-C) vs. the different evaluated groups as evidenced by the TUNEL assay. *p < 0,05 vs. S-C, #p < 0,05 vs. OS-C, +p < 0,05 vs. OS-LDL-KO. Values are expressed as mean ± SD (p < 0,05).