Effects of reducing plasma lipids on pro-osteogenic signaling. Phospho-Smad1/5/8 immunofluorescence (indicative of bone morphogenetic protein signaling) in A) control mice (CTRL), B) hypercholesterolemic mice (HCHOL), and C) “reversed” mice (REV). D) Quantitation of phospho-Smad 1/5/8 immunofluorescent data. Beta-catenin immunofluorescence (indicative of Wnt signaling) in E) control mice, F) hypercholesterolemic mice, and G) “reversed” mice. H) Quantitation of beta-catenin immunofluorescent data. * = p < 0.05 versus control mice, † = p < 0.05 versus hypercholesterolemic mice. Images were acquired using a 60x objective and include only valvular tissue near the base/attachment of the valve.