Figure 4

VLZ administration counteracts radiation-induced thrombocytopenia in vivo. (a) Schematic diagram of thrombopoietin (TPO) (3000 U/kg) and VLZ (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg) administration in Kunming (KM) mice with thrombocytopenia induced by IR. (b–d) Peripheral blood counts showing (b) platelet counts, (c) mean platelet volume (MPV) and (d) RBC on days 0, 4, 7, 10, and 12 post-IR. In B to E, (n=12 per group) the data are expressed as the mean ± SD, and two-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test was used unless otherwise specified. *p≤0.05, **p≤0.01, and ***p≤0.001, vs the model group. (e) Flow cytometry analysis indicates the expression of CD41 and CD61 in peripheral blood cells after receiving therapy for 12 days. The histogram represents the percentage of CD41+/CD61+ cells in each group. (f) Representative image of CD62p in washed platelets in each group. (g) Representative images of CD62p in ADP (10 mM) washed platelets in each group. (h) Micrographs of collagen-coated slides with the same number of platelets perfused. Red represents platelets. The histogram shows the average of red fluorescence on the whole surface by ImageJ software. (i) Platelet aggregation was measured by a turbidimetric aggregation-monitoring device under ADP stimulation. The histogram represents the aggregation results expressed as the maximum aggregation amplitude of platelets in each group. (j) The rate tracings of carotid blood flow. The histogram shows the mean carotid artery occlusion times of each group. (k) Tail bleeding time was measured in each group. (l) Representative images of whole blood clots at times 0, 60, and 120 min (end point) in each group. The histogram represents the percentage of final clot weight. (m) Representative images of washed platelet clots at time 0 and 120 min (endpoint) in each group. The histogram shows clot retraction at 120 min as a percentage of clot area from 0 min. The data represent the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. *p≤0.05, **p≤0.01, and ***p≤0.001, vs the model group.