Table 2.

Condition of injured arteries in each experimental group

Treatment	Group n	Intima-to-Media Ratio*	Canalized Occlusion	Damage to IEL/Media	Intimal Calcification
Saline	9†	0.57±0.13	0	1	0
LPS	5	0.75±0.17	0	0	0
HA crystals	5	0.60±0.15	0	0	0
Cultured HA crystals	4	NA	0	2§	0
Bovine NPs	5	NA	0	4§	0
Human NPs	11†	0.32±0.1‡	6§	2	2 (punctate within occlusion)§

^*Values are means ± SE; n, number of animals.

^†Patency of arteries of 2 animals from each group was validated at dissection; the tissue was used for purposes other than histology.

^‡Ratio was determined in 5 injured arteries that were not occluded and had an intact internal elastic lamina (IEL). NA, not applicable.

^§P ≤ 0.05, statistical significance from control groups (saline, LPS, and HA crystals).