Fig. 4

QSYQ inhibited cell apoptosis in the rats with HF. a TUNEL analysis was carried out 28 days after surgery and drug treatments. Figure (a) showed that almost all the cells in the sham group were TUNEL- negative cells (living cells); Figure (b) showed that there were a number of TUNEL-positive cells (apoptotic cells indicated by arrows) in the model group; Figure (c) and (d) showed that numbers of apoptotic cells were reduced in aspirin and QSYQ groups compared with those in the model group. b The percentages of apoptotic cells in heart tissues were quantified in four groups of rats. QSYQ reduced cardiac apoptosis rate in the HF rats and aspirin could exert a similar effect (**P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, other groups vs. model group, n = 8)