Evaluation of Left Ventricle Function by Regional Fractional Area Change (RFAC) in a Mouse Model of Myocardial Infarction Secondary to Valsartan Treatment - Fig 5

<p>(<b>A</b>) Myocyte cross-sectional area (MCSA) in the remote left ventricle (LV) in sham and infarcted groups (n = 6/group). (<b>B</b>) Cell proliferation measured as KI-67 positivity and proliferating fibroblasts detected by double labeling with KI-67 and vimentin. Cells proliferation was expressed as percentage of KI-67 positive cells over total cell number (nuclei), whereas fibroblasts proliferation was expressed as percentage of vimentin/KI-67 double-positive cells over vimentin positive cells. (<b>C</b>) Representative immunofluorescence and quantification of collagen type I staining of the non-infarcted LV (upper panels) and of appendage (lower panels) in sham, MI and MI+Val mice at 4 weeks post-surgery. Interstitial collagen fraction was measured as the percentage of area occupied by collagen on total tissue area. Values are mean ± SEM. * <i>p</i><0.05, *** <i>p</i><0.001 vs. MI. (n = 6/group).</p

Bull’s eye representations of mean regional fractional area change (RFAC) in sham, MI and MI+Val groups at 24 hours, 1 and 4 weeks after MI (n = 12/group).

<p>Slices from LV apex to the base are shown from the inner to the outer circle, whereas red and green tones indicate lower and higher RFAC values (the color bar on the right shows the corresponding scale). • for 0.05</p

Flow chart showing the experimental protocol with the number of animals used, died and included in the study.

<p>Flow chart showing the experimental protocol with the number of animals used, died and included in the study.</p

Left ventricular global and regional function.

<p>Cardiac magnetic resonance evaluation of regional and global left ventricle function at the baseline and in sham, MI and MI+Val mice included in the study during the follow-up period (24 hours, 1 and 4 weeks). Values are presented as mean ± SEM.</p><p>* p<0.05 and</p><p>** p<0.01 <i>vs</i>. MI.</p><p>^§§§ p<0.001 <i>vs</i>. Sham.</p><p>Left ventricular global and regional function.</p

Echocardiographic evaluation of left atrium (LA) and left atrium appendage (LAA) by apical 4-chamber views, 4-weeks after surgery, representative images.

<p>In upper panels, LA maximum area is shown in sham (A), MI (B) and MI+Val (C) mice. In lower panels, LAA long axis is shown in sham (D), MI (E) and MI+Val (F) mice. LAAla: LAA long axis; LV: left ventricle; RA: right atrium.</p

Representative photomicrographs of infarct size evaluated from the base (left) to the apex (right) by Sirius red staining measured at 4 weeks after surgery in sham, MI and MI+Val groups.

<p>Scale bar: 1 mm.</p