End-organ protection in hypertension by the novel and selective Rho-kinase inhibitor, SAR407899

Figure 4 Histological examination of the effect of SAR407899 on the heart. Sirius red staining of hearts of deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) (A-C) and Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (LNAME) rats (G-I) showed a strong induction of myocardial fibrosis. Upon treatment with SAR407899 at 10 mg/kg, significant protective effects were observed. Haematoxylin eosin staining of hearts of DOCA (D-F) and LNAME rats (J-L) showed perivascular fibrosis, massive infiltration of leukocytes into the interstitium and sclerotic changes. SAR407899 treatment at 10 mg/kg attenuated multifocal fibrosis, perivascular fibrosis and leukocyte infiltration. M and N: Summary of heart lesions and the effect of SAR407899 and reference substances in DOCA (M) and LNAME rats (N). A, D, G, J: Control; B, E: DOCA; H, K: LNAME; C, F, I, L: SAR407899 10 mg/kg.