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. 2011 Nov 16;6(11):e27743. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0027743

Figure 2. Calcific aortic valve disease demonstrates ECM disorganization and VIC disarray.

Figure 2

Representative cross sections from control (A) and diseased (B) aortic valve cusps (3 control and diseased valves were examined). (C) and (D) are higher magnification images of boxed areas in (B). (A) Normal cusps have highly organized stratified ECM with fibrosa (F, yellow), spongiosa (S, blue), and ventricularis (V, black). (B, C) Diseased cusps have disorganized and dispersed ECM with increased collagens (yellow) and proteoglycans (blue) and decreased elastic fibers (black). Aortic valve cusp thickness is increased in diseased valves when compared to control valves (A, B). Calcification deposits are found in diseased valves (arrows, B) along with areas of early mineralization (arrowheads, C) and clusters of VICs that populate the margins of overt calcification (arrow, D). In general, the fibrosa appears expanded and calcification occurs in the arterial aspect of the cusp. The fibrosa is oriented upward in all panels, and the scale bars equal 500 microns in (A, B) and 250 microns in (C, D).