PMC

Summary data of plasma norepinephrine levels from AdCuZnSOD- and AdEmpty-injected rats demonstrating similar plasma norepinephrine levels in both groups at 2 weeks post MI, and a significant increase in plasma norepinephrine in AdEmpty treated rats at 4 weeks post MI. (* = p<0.05 between groups).

Representative transverse histological sections of the mid-ventricle from hearts of a MI-Sham rat (left image) and a MI rat (right image). Both normal right and left ventricles are shown in the MI-Sham rat compared to a highly infarcted area (ARROW) of the free wall of the left ventricle a MI rat. Sections are stained with Masson Trichrome (blue staining = collagen) highlighting the loss of myocardium and replacement with fibrous connective tissue in the MI rat.

A) Schematic of a coronal forebrain section showing the location of the MnPO (highlighted in green). CX – cortex; LV – lateral ventricle; AC – anterior commissure; 3V – third ventricle). B) Immunofluorescent staining of CuZnSOD in the MnPO 6 weeks after direct MnPO injection of AdCuZnSOD or AdEmpty demonstrating a marked increase in CuZnSOD protein levels (green fluorescence) in AdCuZnSOD rats compared to AdEmpty rats. White dotted lines indicate border of dorsal MnPO, which lies just dorsal to the anterior commissure (AC).

A) Representative M-mode echocardiograms from a rat at baseline and a rat 2 weeks post-MI showing normal left ventricular chamber dimensions and normal systolic function at baseline versus increased size of the left ventricular chamber dimensions and markedly depressed left ventricular systolic function at 2 weeks post-MI. B) Summary data of ejection fractions (EF) from rats injected with AdCuZnSOD or AdEmpty into the MnPO demonstrating a significant decrease in EF in both groups at 2 weeks post-MI. EF was diminished less in AdCuZnSOD rats at 4 and 6 weeks post MI compared to AdEmpty rats (* = p<0.05 compared to baseline, # = p<0.05 compared to AdEmpty at the respective time point).