Fig. 6: Superior cervical ganglionectomy (SCGx) attenuated MI/RI and cuproptosis in mice with sleep fragmentation (SF).

A Schematic of the experimental protocol used to establish SCGx-exacerbated MI/RI (left). Removal of the SCG ganglion from the posterior aspect of the common carotid artery was performed under a stereomicroscope, and images of mice that developed ipsilateral ptosis after the SCG was removed from one side were captured. Cartoon mouse images was drawn by Figdraw (https://www.figdraw.com/#/). B SCGx reduced the copper ion level in the myocardium in mice with SF, as detected by ICP‒MS (n = 5 mice per group). Unpaired two-tailed mutiple t-test was used. C Representative M-mode echocardiographic changes showed that SCGx attenuated the impaired cardiac function in mice with SF and MI/RI. D–F Statistical analysis of Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), Left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) and Left ventricular internal diameter, systolic (LVIDs) (n = 10 mice per group). G Representative TTC staining of the myocardium. Scale bar, 2 mm. H The percentage of infarct area was determined by TTC staining (n = 5 mice per group). I, J Representative images of DLAT oligomers from both wide-field and confocal immunofluorescence images of the myocardium by confocal microscopy (red: DLAT oligomers, blue: DAPI). DLAT oligomers levels were quantified by calculating the mean fluorescence intensity (n = 10 mice per group). K Validation of the levels of DLAT oligomerization, lipoylated proteins, iron-sulfur cluster proteins and HSP70 by Western blotting. L–Q Statistical analysis of DLAT oligomers, DLAT monomer, Lip-DLAT, Lip-DLST, FDX1 and HSP70. Data on DLAT oligomers were normalized to tubulin, and the remaining data were normalized to GAPDH (n = 6 mice per group). Data are presented as the mean ± s.e.m. The significance of differences was evaluated using one-way ANOVA. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.