Mesenchymal stem-derived exosomes enhance therapeutic benefits of exercise in isoproterenol-induced myocardial ischemia: Targeting ERK and Akt/mTOR signaling

Figure 10  Immunohistochemistry in the cardiac muscle for caspase-3 and CD31. A: Immunohistochemistry in the cardiac muscle (400 ×) for caspase-3 in control group: Minimal weak caspase-3+ cytoplasmic immunostaining; B: Immunohistochemistry in the cardiac muscle (400 ×) for caspase-3 in ISO + MI group: Widespread strong caspase-3+ cytoplasmic and nuclear immunostaining; C: Immunohistochemistry in the cardiac muscle (400 ×) for caspase-3 in MI + EXE group: Moderate caspase-3+ cytoplasmic and nuclear immunostaining; D: Immunohistochemistry in the cardiac muscle (400 ×) for caspase-3 in MI + MSC-EXO group: Mild caspase-3+ cytoplasmic immunostaining; E: Immunohistochemistry in the cardiac muscle (400 ×) for caspase-3 in MI + EXE + MSC-EXO group: Minimal caspase-3+ cytoplasmic immunostaining; F: The mean (± SD) area% of caspase-3 immunostaining; G: Immunohistochemistry in the cardiac muscle (400 ×) for CD31 in control group: Some CD31+ microvessels; H: Immunohistochemistry in the cardiac muscle (400 ×) for CD31 in ISO + MI group: Very few CD31+ microvessels; I: Immunohistochemistry in the cardiac muscle (400 ×) for CD31 in MI + EXE group: Many CD31+ microvessels; J: Immunohistochemistry in the cardiac muscle (400 ×) for CD31 in MI + MSC-EXO group: Many CD31+ microvessels; K: Immunohistochemistry in the cardiac muscle (400 ×) for CD31 in MI + EXE + MSC-EXO group: Numerous CD31+ microvessels; L: The mean (± SD) number of CD31+ immunostained newly synthesized microvessels. ^aP < 0.05, compared to the control; ^bP < 0.05, compared to ISO + MI group; ^cP < 0.05, compared to MI + EXE; ^dP < 0.05, compared to the MI + MSC-EXO group. Arrow: Cytoplasmic caspase-3 immunostaining; arrowhead: Nuclear immunostaining; double arrows: CD31+ microvessels.