Figure 7. Impact of macrophage depletion on disease severity.

WT C3H mice were infected with TMEV and injected with control or clodronate liposomes from 6–12 days P.I. and sacrificed at 14 days P.I.; n=5. (A) Mean clinical disease scores (+/− SEM) of mice according to the following scale: 1) hunched posture and ruffled fur; 2) swollen muscles/abnormal gait; 3) 1 limb immobilized; 4) 2+ limbs immobilized; 5) death. (B) Representative images of muscle calcification observed upon dissection at 16 days P.I., arrows depict examples of calcified areas. Dissection images revealed calcification of whole animals (left), while zoomed images (middle) illustrate calcification of medial gastrocnemius muscle. Representative alizarin red stainings of gluteus maximus muscles shown in right panel (2× magnification).