Fig. 3.

DPRSFL–ACPP uptake in LDLR^−/− mouse plaques correlates with histologic features that are suggestive of more advanced disease based on human studies. Representative plaques were taken from each aorta. Serial sections stained with Gomori trichrome (A and B, D and E), black arrow points to nuclei of spindle shaped smooth muscle cells in Group 1 (B) which are reduced or absent in Group 2 (E). Scale bar=50 micrometres. Sections were then grouped based on thickness of the smooth muscle cap and the presence or absence of neutrophils and other inflammatory cells by a pathologist blinded to the experimental groups. Fluorescent labeling of representative plaques from Groups 1 and 2 is shown in C and F. These groups were analyzed by examining the average fluorescence intensity of whole aortas (G) or sectioned plaques (H) on per pixel basis. Results were analyzed by unpaired Student’s t-test, with p-values shown.