Effect of dh404 on myocardial apoptosis in mice after TAC.

<p>(A) In the left panel, the representative TUNEL staining of apoptotic cells in left ventricle are shown. TUNEL-positive, i.e., apoptotic nuclei in TAC hearts are stained red, nuclei blue and the myocardium is green (Alexa Fluor 488 Phalloidin to mark F-actin). Magnification, X 630. In the right panel, the apoptotic index results are given. TUNEL-positive cells were quantified as a percent of all nuclei in the section of LV. The number of hearts analyzed for each group is indicated. (B) In the left panel, the representative staining of cleaved caspase-3 positive cells in the left ventricle are shown. Cleaved caspase-3-positive, (i.e., cells with activated caspase-3) in TAC hearts are stained red and nuclei are blue. Cardiomyocytes were green utilizing an antibody of anti-cardiac myosin heavy chain. Magnification, X 630. In the right panel, the relative caspase-3 activity is summarized. Cleaved caspase-3-positive cells were quantified as a percent of all in a section of LV. The number of hearts analyzed for each group is indicated.