Fig. 3

Pio pretreatment prevented LV dysfunction in the chronic phase of DOX-induced LV dysfunction mice (35 days). a Diagram showing the treatment course of each group. For the chronic phase, mice were divided into 3 groups. Vehicle mice were fed a standard diet and treated with vehicle instead of DOX. DOX mice were fed a standard diet and treated with weekly DOX injections for 35 days (25 mg/kg cumulative dose). Pio + DOX mice were orally administered with Pio (0.02% [wt/wt]) from day − 5 as premedication and were treated with weekly DOX injections for 35 days. Measurements of BW and food intake were performed every week. Cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography and hearts were excised on day 35. Open horizontal arrows represent standard diet intake, and the closed horizontal arrow indicates Pio intake. The vertical arrows indicate treatment with vehicle or DOX. b Representative echocardiographs from a mouse in each group; Vehicle (left panel), DOX (middle panel), and Pio + DOX (right panel). The vertical arrows in the echocardiograph indicate LVEDD (left arrow) and LVESD (right arrow). c, d, e, f, g Summary data of LVEDD, LVESD, %FS, HR, and LV wall thickness. Vehicle (open upward triangles, n = 7), DOX (open circles n = 14), and Pio + DOX (closed circles, n = 14). h, i, j Summary data of BW, LV/BW, and lung/BW (n = 7–14 for each group). Data are shown as means ± SEs. *P < 0.05 vs. Vehicle; †P < 0.05 vs. DOX