Figure 1 | Cell Death & Disease

Figure 1

From: Anti-inflammatory effects of a Chinese herbal medicine in atherosclerosis via estrogen receptor β mediating nitric oxide production and NF-κB suppression in endothelial cells

Figure 1

Effect of BSNXD on serum E2, nitric oxide (NO), lipid, atherosclerotic lesions and estrogen receptor (ER) isotype, VCAM-1 expression in thoracic aortic tissues. The sham rabbits underwent a mock operation and received high cholesterol chow. The ovariectomized rabbits underwent bilateral oophorectomy, and then were randomly divided into two groups: OVX group treated by high cholesterol chow; OVX+BSNXD group received high cholesterol chow plus 5 ml mixed row herbs (BSNXD) per kilogram body weight daily. Blood samples were harvested after 12 weeks treatment. Serum E2 concentration (a), Serum NO levels (b) and plasma lipids such as TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C levels (c) were measured. Macroscopic observation of the atheromatous plaque formation on the luminal surface of the aorta (d). Representative micrographs of the intimal lesions (H&E staining) (e); original magnification was × 200. Average percentage of aortic lesion area relative to entire aorta area, intima cross-sectional thickness, intima/media thickness ratio and intimal/medial area ratio (f) was quantified at aortic lesions. S.E.M. of thoracic aorta endothelium, endothelial cells in the OVX group showed irregular in shape, only partially preserved, and the subendothelial surface is visible; aggregated platelets and leukocytes adhering to the endothelium; BSNXD treatment significantly ameliorated the endothelial disruption region; platelets and leukocytes sticking to endothelium were significantly reduced; number of leukocytes per mm2 adhering to the endothelium was decreased by BSNXD treatment (g). Immunohistochemistry staining of ER was performed in artery after BSNXD treatment, and ER expression was much more intense in the artery layer (h). As shown in (i, j), both ERα and ERβ expression in artery wall layer of OVX group were markedly lower than that in Sham animals. In all, 12-week treatment with BSNXD significantly increased ERβ expression, while did not alter the ERα expression. Immunohistochemistry staining for VCAM-1 was performed in artery. The VCAM-1 expression in endothelial cells, subendothelial and smooth muscle cell layers near the endothelium of arterial wall was significantly decreased after BSNXD treatment compared to the OVX control (k); Data are expressed as mean values±S.E.M. (n=6). **P<0.01 compared with the OVX group

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