TIQ-A administration promotes an enrichment of SMCs and an increase in
collagen content in regressed atherosclerotic plaques. Immunohistochemistry
analysis with antibodies to SMA (A) or trichrome staining (B) of plaques from
the different experimental groups; quantitation of immunoreactivity or
trichrome stain was conducted using Image-Pro Plus software (MediaCybernetics,
Inc., Bethesda, MD) and expressed as immunoreactivity per millimeter squared.
*, difference from ApoE(-/-) mice fed the high-fat diet for 16
weeks; ‡, difference from ApoE(-/-) mice fed the high-fat diet for 12
weeks followed with 4 weeks of regular diet; P < 0.01.