Figure 3
From: Oestrogen Inhibits Arterial Calcification by Promoting Autophagy
Oestrogen inhibits the calcification of VSMCs in vitro and in vivo. (A,B) Analysis of Runx2 levels (A) and ALP activity (B) in VSMCs treated with different concentrations of oestrogen for 72 h. *p < 0.01 compared with the cells treated with vehicle. # p < 0.05, ## p < 0.01 compared with the cells treated with β-GP (n = 5). (C) VSMCs were pre-treated with 10−7 M oestrogen and β-GP for 12 days. A representative plate view of the Alizarin Red S staining is shown. Quantification of calcium levels using the O-cresolphthalein complexone method. *p < 0.01 compared with the cells treated with vehicle. (D) Thirty-two OVX mice were randomly divided into four groups treated with vitamin D3, vitamin D3 + oestrogen, vitamin D3 + oestrogen + 3MA or 7% emulphor (control). Vascular calcification was evaluated by Alizarin Red S staining. (D) OVX mice were randomly divided into four groups and then treated with vitamin D3, vitamin D3 + oestrogen, vitamin D3 + oestrogen + 3MA, or 7% emulphor (control). Calcium content was measured using the O-cresolphthalein complexone method. *p < 0.01 compared with the OVX groups. **p < 0.01 compared with the OVX + VD group. ***p < 0.01 compared with OVX + VD + E2 group (n = 8). Representative images are shown.
