Fig. 5

Oral administration of TEPP-46 alleviates heart failure, improves cardiac mitochondrial morphology and mitigates oxidative stress. A Schematic diagram of the TEPP-46 treatment for RVF rats. Transthoracic echocardiography was carried out as indicated. The right ventricular tissues were harvested on day 28 for analysis. B–C PKM2 tetramerization in the right ventricular tissue of RVF and RVF + TEPP-46 rats were analyzed by DSS crosslinking. The ratio of tetramer to monomer was quantified and expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 5 rats per group. D Right ventricular function of RVF rats treated with or without TEPP-46 was determined by measuring the FAC at indicated time. Significance was determined by two-way ANOVA followed by Sidak's multiple comparisons test, n = 5 rats per group. E–F Paraffin-embedded sections of heart tissue were subjected to HE or Masson staining. The boxed area was further enlarged. Scale bar (left panel) = 100 μm; scale bar (right panel) = 2000 μm. G Apoptosis was measured by TUNEL staining (green) at paraffin-embedded sections. Nuclei were stained with DAPI in blue. Scale bar (left panel) = 100 μm; scale bar (right panel) = 50 μm. H The quantification of F. Data was collected from ten random fields of the right ventricular tissue section of two rats per group. I Relative ROS level in right ventricular tissue was measured by AOPP test. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 6 rats per group. J–K Lysates from right ventricle of RVF rats treated with or without TEPP-46 were analyzed by western blotting with indicated antibodies. Relative protein level was quantified and expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 3 rats per group. L TEM of right ventricle in RVF and RVF + TEPP-46 rats (Scale bar = 1 µm). Damaged mitochondria were marked with black arrow head, ruptured mitochondria were marked with red arrow head. M The total count of mitochondria in field were calculated according to representative transmission electron micrographs of right ventricular tissues of rat in RVF and RVF + TEPP-46 group. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 10 micrographs per group. N The ratio of damaged mitochondria to total mitochondria (black arrows) in field were calculated according to representative transmission electron micrographs of right ventricular tissues of rat in RVF and RVF + TEPP-46 group. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 10 micrographs per group. O The ratio of ruptured mitochondria to total mitochondria (red arrows) in field were calculated according to representative transmission electron micrographs of right ventricular tissues of rat in RVF and RVF + TEPP-46 group. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 10 micrographs per group