Fig. 7.

Silicate ions as soluble form of bioactive ceramics administrated in the mode of Design II suppress β-BAPN induced AAD formation: reducing mortality rate and AAD incidence rate as well as inhibiting the aortic dilation and collagen deposition of the aortic arches. (A) Schematic diagram of treatments in Design II: 21-day-old mice were administrated with β-BAPN (0.8 g/kg/day) containing water or free water for 28 days. Silicate ions-containing saline or saline control were intravenously injected in mice 14 times every day after 7 days' β-BAPN administration. Experimental groups were designated as β-BAPN + Saline and β-BAPN + H-CS, respectively, and pure water feeding plus saline injection were used as control (H₂O + Saline). (B) The mortality rate and AAD incidence rate after different treatment (n = 6 for H₂O + Saline, n = 18 for β-BAPN + Saline, and n = 13 for β-BAPN + CS). (C) Representative photographs of whole aortas in Design II. Red arrows show AADs. (D) Representative US images and quantitative maximal diameters of aortic arches in Design II. White lines and values represent the maximal diameters of aortic arches (n = 5 for H₂O + Saline, β-BAPN + Saline, and β-BAPN + CS). (E) Representative HE and Masson's trichrome staining images and summary collagen deposition score of aortic arches (n = 4 for H₂O + Saline, n = 4 for β-BAPN + Saline, and n = 6 for β-BAPN + CS). Scale bars, 2 mm (C), 1 mm (D) and 200 μm (E). All data are presented as mean ± SEM, one-way ANOVA. ***P < 0.001 vs. PBS + Saline, ^#P < 0.05 or ^##P < 0.01 vs. β-BAPN + Saline.