Journal: PNAS Nexus
Article Title: The SK4 channel allosteric blocker, BA6b9, reduces atrial fibrillation substrate in rats with reduced ejection fraction
doi: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae192
Figure Lengend Snippet: Effect of BA6b9 on collagen deposition, α-SMA expression, and SK4 expression in the LA epicardium of rats with MI-induced HF. A) Statistical summary of LA epicardial fibrosis (analysis of six randomized epicardial fields for each atrial section, total of 18 atrial-epicardium fields per animal); vehicle- vs. BA6b9-treated rats, compared to control ( n = 7, n = 8, n = 4, respectively; one-way ANOVA, F(2, 16) = 16.53, Sidak's multiple comparisons test P = 0.0001). A1) Representative histological cross-section of LA myocardium attached to the epicardial tissue from a control rat (left upper row). The analyzed area is marked by dashed lines. A2, A3) Representative histological cross-sections of the LA from post-MI rats treated with vehicle (left middle row) or BA6b9 (left lower row) for 21 days. Sections A1–A3 were stained with Masson's Trichrome. B) Statistical summary of LA epicardial α-SMA expression; (analysis: same as in A; vehicle vs. BA6b9-treated rats, compared to control ( n = 7, n = 8, n = 4, respectively; one-way ANOVA, F(2, 16) = 16.53, Sidak's multiple comparisons test P = 0.0001). B1) Representative histological cross-section of LA myocardium attached to the epicardial tissue from a control rat (middle upper row). B2, B3) Representative histological cross-sections of the LA in post-MI rats treated with vehicle (center) vs. BA6b9 (middle lower row) for 21 days. Sections B1–B3 were stained with Sirius Red. C) Statistical summary of LA epicardial α-SMA expression; (analysis: same as in A; vehicle- vs. BA6b9-treated rats, compared to control ( n = 7, n = 8, n = 4, respectively; one-way ANOVA, F(2, 16) = 10.21, Sidak's multiple comparisons test P = 0.0014). C1) Representative histological cross-section of LA myocardium attached to the epicardial tissue from a control rat (right upper row). C2, C3) Representative histological cross-sections of the LA in post-MI rats treated with vehicle (right middle row) or BA6b9 (right lower row) for 21 days. Sections C1–C3 were stained with DAB. Note the marked thickening of the atrial epicardium in MI rats compared to controls as well as the significant reductions in collagen deposition (A, A1–A3), α-SMA expression (B, B1–B3), and SK4 expression (C, C1–C3) in the BA6b9-treated rats compared to the vehicle group. An inset in each photograph shows the full LA tissue in low resolution.
Article Snippet: Antigen retrieval was performed using BOND Epitope Retrieval Solution 1 (Citrate buffer, prediluted, pH 6.0) for 20 min at 100°C, followed by peroxide treatment for 10 min. For membranal staining, we primarily incubated the sections with WGA (29022, CF488 WGA, Biotium, 1:500 in PBS) conjugated with Alexa Fluor 488 for 30 min, followed by incubation with blocking buffer (10% normal goat serum, 0.1% Triton, and 10% bovine serum albumin) for 30 min. For analyses of SK4 expression and localization, we incubated the specimens with the primary antibody (ALM-051, Alomone Labs, mouse monoclonal antibody against the 3rd extracellular loop of human SK4, 1:50) for 90 min and then stained with a Cy3-conjugated secondary antibody (711-165-151, Jackson Immunoresearch Laboratories, Cy TM 3-conjugated AffiniPure Donkey Anti-Mouse, 1:100) for 90 min. For Cx43 expression and localization analyses, we incubated the specimens with the primary antibody (C6219, Sigma-Aldrich, rabbit polyclonal antibody against the C-terminus of human/rat Cx43, 1:400) for 90 min and stained with a Cy5-conjugated secondary antibody (711-175-152, Jackson Immunoresearch Laboratories, Cy TM 5-conjugated AffiniPure Donkey Anti-Rabbit, 1:200) for 90 min. At the end of the staining, we incubated the specimens with Vector TrueVIEW Autofluorescence Quenching kit (SP-8400-15, Vector laboratories) for 10 min to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and reduce autofluorescence.
Techniques: Expressing, Control, Staining