Figure 2.

MK protein localization in the rat model. (a and b) Untreated carotid artery; (c–e) 7 days after balloon injury; (f and g) 14 days after balloon injury. (a, c, f) Hematoxylin and eosin staining; (b, d, g) MK-immunostaining; (e) control immunostaining with preabsorbed antibodies. MK protein was detected in the endothelial cells (arrow in b) in untreated samples (b). Seven and 14 days after balloon injury, MK protein expression was mainly localized in intimal lesions (d, g). Arrowheads in c–g indicate internal elastic lamina above which intimal lesions are located. The negative staining with preabsorbed antibodies indicated that the immunostaining with MK antibodies was specific (e). a and b; c, d, and e; and f and g have identical magnification, respectively. Each scale bar is 50 μm.