Nrf2 Deficiency Unmasks the Significance of Nitric Oxide Synthase Activity for Cardioprotection

Figure 4

Left ventricular systolic function following AMI in Nrf2 KO mice is preserved by NOS. (a) In WT (white box plots) and eNOS KO (red box plots) mice, ejection fraction (EF) was significantly decreased 24 h after AMI, whereas it was essentially unchanged in Nrf2 KO mice (blue box plots). ETU application resulted in an impairment of systolic function in Nrf2 KO mice, but not in WT mice, indicating NOS-dependent preservation of cardiac function in Nrf2 KO mice as compared to WT mice. (b) Cardiac output (CO) was significantly decreased after ETU application in Nrf2 KO mice indicating eNOS-dependent preservation of systolic function after I/R. (c) IVCT was increased after ETU application in Nrf2 KO mice, but not in WT mice. WT mice: , Nrf2 KO mice: ; Browne-Forsythe test , means ± quartiles, one-way ANOVA, except for eNOS KO mice (red boxes): 4-5, unpaired t-test. and .

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