Low-sodium diet induces atherogenesis regardless of lowering blood pressure in hypertensive hyperlipidemic mice - Fig 5

<p>Histomorphometric analysis of immunofluorescence-stained AT1 receptor (<b>A</b> segments I and II; <b>B</b> segments III and IV), and vascular injury quantified by a histomorphometric analysis of immunofluorescence-stained CML (<b>C</b> segments I and II; <b>D</b> segments III and IV) and RAGE (<b>E</b> segments I and II; <b>F</b> segments III and IV); data are represented as the mean percentage of the total positively stained area of the aortic arch cross-sections; n = 4 mice per group. ^a <i>P</i> < 0.05, hypertensive mice fed a normal-sodium diet (H-NS) <i>vs</i> hypertensive mice fed a low-sodium diet (H-LS), Mann Whitney test. ^b <i>P</i> < 0.05, Kruskal Wallis with Dunn’s post hoc test applied for comparisons among LS groups.</p

Representative examples of lipid infiltration visualized by oil red O staining of the intima and media layers of different aortic arch segments from animal groups consisting of hypertensive mice fed a normal-sodium diet (H-NS), normotensive mice fed a low-sodium diet (N-LS), hypertensive mice fed a low-sodium diet (H-LS), hypertensive mice fed a low-sodium diet and treated with losartan (H-LS+Los) and hypertensive mice fed a low-sodium diet and treated with hydralazine (H-LS+Hyd).

<p>Arrows indicate sites of aortic arch lipid infiltration. ADV = adventitia, MED = media, INT = intima (400×).</p

Gene expression (mRNA) of the AT1 receptor (<i>Agtr1</i>) and RAGE (<i>Ager</i>) in the mouse aortic arch.

<p>Data are expressed as relative mRNA units normalized to mouse β2M expression. Mann Whitney test was used for comparisons between hypertensive mice fed a normal-sodium (H-NS) diet and hypertensive mice fed a low-sodium (H-LS) diet. The Kruskal Wallis test with Dunn’s post hoc test was applied for comparisons among the LS groups; n ≥ 4 mice per group.</p

Univariate regression analysis of arterial lipid infiltration in N and H LDLR KO mice fed a NS or LS diet treated or not with an antihypertensive drug.

<p>Univariate regression analysis of arterial lipid infiltration in N and H LDLR KO mice fed a NS or LS diet treated or not with an antihypertensive drug.</p

Phenotypic characteristics of normotensive (N) or hypertensive (H) LDLR KO mice fed either a normal-sodium (NS) or a low-sodium (LS) diet and treated or not with losartan (Los) or hydralazine (Hyd).

<p>Phenotypic characteristics of normotensive (N) or hypertensive (H) LDLR KO mice fed either a normal-sodium (NS) or a low-sodium (LS) diet and treated or not with losartan (Los) or hydralazine (Hyd).</p

Gene-specific RT-PCR primers.

<p>Gene-specific RT-PCR primers.</p