Determination of cardiac fibrosis.

<p>Mice were sacrificed at 1, 3, 5 and 7 months of age, and heart tissues were examined for pathological changes and collagen expression. Heart fibrosis, as determined by Masson staining (A, original magnification ×200). The fibrosis area of the section was quantified using image-Pro Plus 6.0 software, the ratio of collagen area and total area (×%) was counted and compared (B). *<i>P</i><0.05 <i>vs.</i> NTG mice. The synthesis of Col1α1 and Col3α1 was detected using quantitative real-time PCR (C) and RT-PCR (D). <i>P</i><0.001 <i>vs.</i> Col1α1 of NTG mice; *<i>P</i><0.05 <i>vs.</i> Col3α1 of NTG mice; **<i>P</i><0.001 <i>vs.</i> Col3α1 of NTG mice. The Col1α1/Col3α1 ratio was compared between NTG and TG mice (E). *<i>P</i><0.05 <i>vs.</i> NTG mice; **<i>P</i><0.001 <i>vs.</i> NTG mice.