Research Article

Qiliqiangxin Enhances Cardiac Glucose Metabolism and Improves Diastolic Function in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Figure 5

Mitochondrial function, along with relevant protein and gene expressions in the heart of experimental animals. (a) Relative protein expressions including GLUT-1, GLUT-4, PGC-1α, and p-AMPKα in left ventricular myocardium of the four animal groups. GLUT-1, glucose transporter-1; GLUT-4, glucose transporter-4; PGC-1α, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor coactivator-1α; p-AMPKα, phospho-AMP-activated protein kinase α. (b) Citrate synthase activity measured in heart homogenates and expressed as nmol/min per milligram of total protein. (c) ATP concentration detected in LV myocardial tissues of the four animal groups. (d) Relative HK2, PDK4, and CS mRNA expressions in left ventricular myocardium of the four animal groups. HK2, hexokinase-2; PDK4, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase-4; CS, citrate synthase. Olm, olmesartan; versus WKY + saline group; versus WKY + saline group; versus SHR + saline group; versus SHR + saline group.
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