HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor, Simvastatin Is Effective in Decreasing Degree of Myocarditis by Inhibiting Metalloproteinases Activation

Figures

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  Figure 1. Effect of simvastatin on left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD). C indicates not immunized group without simvastatin, EAM—group with induced EAM without simvastatin; EAM+S3—low-dosage simvastatin EAM group (3 mg/kg/d); EAM+S30—high-dosage simvastatin EAM group (30 mg/kg/d).

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  Figure 2. 92-kDa MMP-9 activities in heart tissue and representative zymogram showing gelatinolytic activities in heart tissue. C indicates not immunized group without simvastatin; EAM—group with induced EAM without simvastatin; EAM+S3—low-dosage simvastatin EAM group (3 mg/kg/d); EAM+S30—high-dosage simvastatin EAM group (30 mg/kg/d); 92 kDa indicates matrix metalloproteinase 9.

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  Figure 3. 24-kDa troponin I (TnI) levels in heart tissue and representative TnI protein quantity in heart homogenates determined by Western blot. C indicates not immunized group without simvastatin; EAM—group with induced EAM without simvastatin; EAM+S3—low-dosage simvastatin EAM group (3 mg/kg/d); EAM+S30—high-dosage simvastatin EAM group (30 mg/kg/d); 24 kDa indicates TnI.

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  Figure 4. The representative images of cardiac muscle from not immunized rats without simvastatin (group C). The healthy heart without mononuclear cell infiltrates ((A), HE stain) and a typical ultrastructure of heart with proper cross striations and abundant mitochondria ((B), TEM).

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  Figure 5. The acuteness of inflammation in rats’ cardiac muscle subjected to EAM. Area of heart without inflammation (A), a mild degree of inflammation (B), a moderate degree of inflammation (C), severe degree of inflammation; arrows indicate multinucleated giant cells (D). HE stain.

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  Figure 6. Effect of simvastatin on severity of inflammation. C indicates not immunized group without simvastatin, EAM—group with induced EAM without simvastatin; EAM+S3—low-dosage simvastatin EAM group (3 mg/kg/d); EAM+S30—high-dosage simvastatin EAM group (30 mg/kg/d).

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  Figure 7. Ultrastructure of the cardiac muscle in rats subjected to EAM ((A,B)—EAM S3; (C,D)—EAM S30). Swollen mitochondria and substantial loss of myofilaments (A), myofilaments connected with the intercalated disc show disarrangement (B), normal heart (C), the well-organized structure of intercalated disc (D). Mit—mitochondria, Z—Z lines, arrows—intercalated disc, SER—sarcoplasmic reticulum. TEM.