ANP treatment effects on SBP, NOx, cardiac NOS activity and eNOS expression.

<p>(<b>A</b>) SBP: systolic blood pressure; (<b>B</b>) NOx: Nitrites and nitrates excretion; (<b>C</b>) NOS (nitric oxide synthase) activity; (<b>D</b>) Representative blot of eNOS and β-actin and quantification of the bands of eNOS. Data are mean ± SEM (n = 10). *p<0.01 vs. Control male, # p<0.01 vs Control female.</p

Effects of chronic treatment with ANP on oxidative stress in left ventricle of male and female SHR.

<p>GSH: glutathione; TBARS: thiobarbituric acid reactive substances; CAT: Catalase; SOD: superoxide dismutase; GPx: gluthatione peroxidase.</p><p>Data are mean ±SEM (n = 10).</p><p>*p<0.01 vs. Control male;</p>#<p>p<0.01 vs. Control female.</p

Immunohistochemistry staining for TGF-β in left ventricle after treatment with ANP.

<p>Representative micrographs of immunostained TGF-β in the hearts from each group. (<b>A</b>): Control male; (<b>B</b>): ANP male; (<b>C</b>): Control female; (<b>D</b>): ANP female. All images are in the same magnification 400X. Scale bar  = 30 µm.</p

Effects of chronic treatment with ANP on cardiac fibrosis and apoptosis in male and female SHR.

<p>SR: Sirius red; TGF-β: transforming growth factor beta.</p><p>Data are mean ±SEM (n = 10).</p><p>*p<0.01 vs. Control male;</p>#<p>p<0.01 vs. Control female.</p

Sirius Red staining in left ventricle after treatment with ANP.

<p>The red colour of Sirius red staining under the common microscope indicates total collagen deposits, representative images are from hearts of each group. (<b>A</b>): Control male; (<b>B</b>): ANP male; (<b>C</b>): Control female; (<b>D</b>): ANP female. All images are in the same magnification 400X. Scale bar  = 30 µm.</p