Fig 1: Aortic eNOS expressions in control and CD-fed rats treated with or without etanercept (n = 10). * p < 0.0001, statistically different from the control group and # p < 0.0001, statistically different from the CD group. Control (not exposed to CD), CD (exposed to CD during 12 weeks), and CD + ETA (exposed to CD and treated with subcutaneous injections of etanercept (0.8 mg/kg/week) during 12 weeks). Control group was fed with standard pellet diet.
Fig 2: Effects of PT on VEGF and eNOS expression levels at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. (A) Relative levels of VEGF and eNOS mRNA in each group. (B) Western blot images of VEGF and eNOS. (1) Sham group, (2) model group, (3) PT+LY294002 group, (4) PT group and (5) EPC group. (C) The relative expression levels of VEGF and eNOS were calculated via normalization to the levels of GAPDH. The data are presented as the mean ± SD. At 4 weeks and 8 weeks: compared to the sham group, &p < 0.05; compared to the model group, *p < 0.05; compared to the PT group, #p < 0.05; compared to the corresponding 4-week group, @p < 0.05.
Fig 3: Analysis of immunohistochemistry staining using ImageJ. The immunopositivity was decreased in CD group compared to the control group. In the CD + ETA group, eNOS immunoreactivity was similar to that of the control group. * indicates significance from the control group at p < 0.05 comparability test, + indicates significance from the CD group at p < 0.05 probability test. Control (not exposed to CD), CD (exposed to CD during 12 weeks), and CD + ETA (exposed to CD and treated with subcutaneous injections of etanercept (0.8 mg/kg/week) during 12 weeks). Control group was fed with standard pellet diet.
Fig 4: Effect of PT on VEGF and eNOS expression as determined by immunohistochemistry at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. (A) Immunohistochemical images of VEGF and eNOS at 8 weeks. (B) The MOD of VEGF at 4 weeks and 8 weeks was calculated using Image-Pro Plus 6.0 software. (C) The MOD of eNOS at 4 weeks and 8 weeks was calculated using Image-Pro Plus 6.0 software. The data are presented as the mean ± SD (n = 8). At 4 weeks and 8 weeks: compared to the sham group, &p < 0.05; compared to the model group, *p < 0.05; compared to the PT group, #p < 0.05; compared to the corresponding 4-week group, @p < 0.05.
Fig 5: Representative light microscopy of the control, CD, and CD + ETA groups in the endothelium of the thoracic aorta (n = 10). Decreased endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) immunoreactivity in the CD group (B) compared with the control group (A), and increased eNOS immunoreactivity in the CD + ETA group (C) compared with the CD group (B). Control (not exposed to CD), CD (exposed to CD during 12 weeks), and CD + ETA (exposed to CD and treated with subcutaneous injections of etanercept (0.8 mg/kg/week) during 12 weeks). Control group was fed with standard pellet diet.
Supplier Page from Abcam for Anti-eNOS antibody