Figure 1

Up-regulation of TLR4 and increased apoptosis in the hearts of STZ mice. (A) TLR4 expression in the hearts of STZ mice. Injection of STZ induced Type I diabetes as described in Materials and Methods. Control mice were injected with the same volume of sodium citrate buffer (Sham). On day 7 after STZ treatment, the hearts from diabetic mice (n = 6) and sham mice (n = 6) were retrieved. Total mRNA was extracted and used to detect the TLR4 transcripts by qPCR. (B) Determination of in situ apoptotic cells in myocardia. Apoptosis in sham-treated mice and STZ-treated diabetic mice was detected by TUNEL assay. Representative photomicrographs of TUNEL staining in cardiomyocytes are shown in yellow-blown signal (arrows) from (a) sham treated mice (n = 6) or (b) STZ-treated diabetic mice (n = 6). (C) Quantification of TUNEL positive cardiomyocytes. (D) Fas expression in the hearts of STZ mice. Diabetes was induced by STZ injection as described in Materials and Methods. On day 7 after STZ treatment, the hearts from diabetic mice (n = 6) and sham mice (n = 6) were retrieved. Total mRNA was extracted and used to detect the Fas transcripts by qPCR. Mean ± SD are shown in A, C and D, and are representative of 3 experiments; (∗) Statistical significance when compared with sham treated mice and STZ-treated diabetic mice was denoted at p < 0.05.