Pathological changes of ascending aorta of rats from groups M, L, X and C.

<p>(H-E staining, 20x).</p

Effects of Xuezhikang on cGMP level in aorta wall and erythrocyte cytoplasm.

<p>Hemoglobin in erythrocyte cytoplasm had been removed by ultrafiltration before the assay. *:<i>P</i><0.05 vs. group C; **:<i>P</i><0.05 vs. group M.</p

Effects of Xuezhikang on eNOS expression in aorta.

<p>(A) Protein lysate of aorta wall was used for the detection of eNOS, eNOS p-ser1177 by western blotting (n = 6/group). *:<i>P</i><0.05 vs. group C; **:<i>P</i><0.05 vs. group M; #:<i>P</i><0.05 vs. group L. (B) Immunohistochemistry of aorta wall located eNOS expression in aorta endothelia (brown staining).</p

Plasma lipids in the four groups of rats (mean±SD).

*<p><i>P</i><0.05 vs. group C;</p>**<p><i>P</i><0.05 vs. group M.</p><p>M: atherosclerosis model group, rats were fed with high cholesterol diet (HCD); L: Lovastatin group, rats were fed with HCD+Lovastatin; X: Xuezhikang group, rats were fed with HCD+Xuezhikang. C: control group, rats were fed with regular diet.</p

Effect of Xuezhikang on eNOS expression on erythrocyte membrane (n = 6/group).

<p>About a 134 kDa band was identified by anti-eNOS antibody. β-tubulin was used as an internal reference. *:<i>P</i><0.05 vs. group C; **:<i>P</i><0.05 vs. group M; #:<i>P</i><0.05 vs. group L.</p

Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in the four groups of rats (mean±SD).

*<p><i>P</i><0.05 vs. group C;</p>**<p><i>P</i><0.05 vs. group M;</p>#<p><i>P</i><0.05 vs. group L.</p

Hemorheological parameters in the four groups of rats (mean±SD).

*<p><i>P</i><0.05 vs. group C;</p>**<p><i>P</i><0.05 vs. group M;</p>#<p><i>P</i><0.05 vs. group L.</p

Effect of Xuezhikang on caveolin-1 expression in aorta wall.

<p>(A) Protein lysate of aorta wall was used for the detection of caveolin-1 (n = 6/group). *:<i>P</i><0.05 vs. group C; **:<i>P</i><0.05 vs. group M; #:<i>P<</i>0.05 vs. group L. (B) Immunohistochemistry of aorta wall located caveolin-1 predominantly in aortic endothelia (brown staining).</p