Fig. 5

Simvastatin treatment does not influence the angiogenic markers in the gastrocnemius muscle in dystrophic animals. A Decreased mRNA level of angiogenesis-related genes Vegfa, Kdr, and Cxcl12 in the gastrocnemius muscle of vehicle-treated mdx mice and no changes in Ang1; n=11–15/group; presented as mean ± SEM; WT level marked with the dotted line; qRT-PCR. The unaffected protein level of B VEGF, C SDF-1, and D CD105 in the gastrocnemius muscle of statin-receiving animals; n=9–13/group; presented as mean ± SEM, ELISA. E The quantitative analysis and representative photos of the blood vessels performed based on CD31/α-SMA double staining showing no difference in the gastrocnemius muscle of mdx animals treated with simvastatin when compared to the vehicle group; n=5–6/group; presented as mean ± SEM; scale bar: 100 μm; ^*p < 0.05, ^** p < 0.01, ^***p < 0.001, ^****p < 0.0001