IF alleviates myocardial I/R injury of ApoE^−/− mice. (a) Schematic diagram for experiments in (b), (c), and (d). (b) IF markedly decreases the infarct area/AAR ratio in ApoE^−/− mice. The LV tissue sections of AL and IF-diet mice were stained with TTC and Evans blue dye after I/R injury. The blue area, stained by Evans blue, indicates the non-infarct area, while the other unstained area indicates AAR. The red area, which can be stained by TTC, indicates viable myocardium, and the white area indicates the infarct area. Representative sections and summary data of AAR/LV and infarction area/AAR are presented (n = 10, biologically independent animals per group). (c) IF improves cardiac function as indicated by echocardiography, including EF and LV volume indices (LVEDV and LVESV) in ApoE^−/− mice. Representative M-mode echocardiograms and summary data are presented (n = 10, biologically independent animals per group). Abbreviations: LVEDV, left ventricular volumes at end diastole; LVESV, left ventricular volumes at end systole. (d) Myocardial I/R-induced microvascular thrombosis in the reperfused cardiac tissue of ApoE^−/− mice is reduced by IF. Representative immunohistochemistry results and summary data of CD42b positive area quantification (as a percentage of the field) are presented (n = 10, biologically independent animals per group). Data are shown as mean ± SEM. ns, no significance; ^*P < 0.05; ^**P < 0.01. Data were analyzed using unpaired Student’s t-test (b, c, and d).