Fig. 6From: Gastrin exerts a protective effect against myocardial infarction via promoting angiogenesisCCK2R role in the protective effects of gastrin against myocardial infarction. Endothelial cells were treated with gastrin (100 nM) with or without the CCK2R inhibitor, CI988 (100 nM). a Western blot was used to detect the protein levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFA). Results are expressed as the ratio of VEGFA to GAPDH. n = 4. *P < 0.05, vs. Control; #P < 0.05, vs. gastrin-treated group. b Representative images and quantification of endothelial cell tube formation assay in vitro. Scale bar = 50 µm. n = 4. *P < 0.05, vs. Control; #P < 0.05, vs gastrin-treated group. Myocardial infarction mice were infused with gastrin or/and CI988. c1 Immunofluorescence staining with anti-cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31) antibody showed the microvessel densities in the infarcted border zone 14 days after MI. DAPI is blue, and CD31 is red. Scale bar = 50 µm. c2 Western blot was used to detect the protein levels of CD31 in the peri-infarct area of the heart 14 days after MI. Results are expressed as the ratio of CD31 to GAPDH. n = 8. *P < 0.05, vs. MI group; #P < 0.05, vs gastrin-treated MI mice. d1 Representative M-mode images of hearts with MI 28 days after gastrin or/and CI988 infusion. d2–3 Left ventricle ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS) 7, 14, and 28 days after MI. n = 8. *P < 0.05, vs. MI + Gastrin + CI988Back to article page