Fig. 3

Collagen deposition in myocardium were significantly reduced by RSV in rats with DCM. The myocardial tissues were stained with Masson and picrosirius red. One representative image was shown for each group. Slides stained with picrosirius red were examined by bright field and polarized light. After staining with Masson, there was a large amount of collagen fibers (blue) disorderly deposited between myocardial cells in the DCM group, while there was only a very small amount of collagen fibers observed in the control group. Under bright field, a large amount of collagen fibers (red) deposition were also observed in the DCM group and they were decreased by RSV in the RSV-L and RSV-H groups. Under polarized light, collagen fibers type I (yellow–red staining) was markedly increased in the DCM group compared to the control group. After the intervention with RSV, collagen tissues were decreased in the RSV-L and RSV-H groups. RSV, Resveratrol; DCM, dilated cardiomyopathy disease; RSV-L, low dose of RSV (10 mg/kg/d); RSV-H, high dose of RSV (50 mg/kg/d). Scale bar 50 μm