Figure 3.

Immunolocalization of p65, p50, IκBα, IKKα and α-SM actin in serial paraffin cross-sections of chicken embryo aorta at days E7, E14 and E21. At day E7, a moderate p50 expression is observed in the endothelium (e), condensed mesenchyme (cm) and in cells of the lamellar layers (lc). Little p65, IκBα and IKKα immunoreactivity is observed throughout the vessel wall. Strong α-SM actin immunoreactivity is detected in the condensed mesenchyme (cm) and in cells of the lamellar layers (lc) but not in the endothelium (e). At day E14, immunoreactivity for p65, p50, IκBα and IKKα was similar to that observed at day 13 (see Fig. 1). For α-SM actin, a strong immunoreactivity is observed in a few mesenchymal cells and in lamellar cell layers (lc). At day E21, the expression of p65, p50, IκBα and IKKα is detected throughout the vessel wall, including in the cells of the outer media where the cells appear as compact lamellae (cl). Strong α-SM actin expression is observed in a few mesenchymal cells adjacent to the endothelium and in the lamellar cell layers (lc) and compact lamellae (cl). L, lumen; it, intimal thickening. Scale bars = 100 and 50 µm.