Astaxanthin Attenuates Hypertensive Vascular Remodeling by Protecting Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells from Oxidative Stress-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Figure 6

ATX alleviates Ang II-induced mitochondrial structural damages of VSMCs and regulates the expression of genes and proteins that associated with mitochondrial fission, mitophagy, and mitochondrial biosynthesis. (a) Mitochondrial ultrastructure features of VSMCs under transmission electron micrographs (TEM) and the length, width, area, and length to width ratio of mitochondria, as well as mitophagy number in each group. VD: vacuolar deformation; TI: thread-like intima; ED: electron-densed depositions; AP: autophagosome. . Protein expressions of Drp1 and p-Drp1 (b), PGC-1α (c), and parkin and PINK1 (d). Expression of mtDNA (e) copy member and Tfam mRNA (f). Data are represented as of 6 independent experiments. vs. untreated controls; ^# vs. VSMCs induced by Ang II (1 μM).

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