Figure 2.

ApoE^−/−Fbn1^C1039G+/− mice on Western-type diet show intraplaque neovascularization and haemorrhage in common carotid arteries (A–E) and brachiocephalic arteries (F–K). (A) Left common carotid artery of an ApoE^−/−Fbn1^C1039G+/− mouse that died suddenly after 19 weeks on Western-type diet. Common carotid arteries show pronounced stenosis, intraplaque neovessels, and haemorrhage. (B) Detail of intraplaque haemorrhage at the plaque base (left box in (A)), erythrocytes indicated with arrowheads (H&E). (C) Neovessel (right box in (A)) sprouting out of the media, erythrocytes indicated with arrowheads; H&E. (D) Detail of a neovessel in carotid artery plaque (endothelial cells: von Willebrand stain, red; erythrocytes: arrowheads; lumen of the neovessel: asterisk). (E) Neovessels (arrowheads) are located in hypoxic plaque regions (pimonidazole stain, red). (F) Multiple microvessels in brachiocephalic artery plaques (arrowheads, H&E). (G) Detail of microvessels (arrowheads). (H and I) Intraplaque haemorrhage in the brachiocephalic artery (erythrocytes: TER-119 stain, red, arrowheads). (J) In vivo CD31 stain (endothelial cells, green; lumen of neovessel, asterisk) showing microvessels sprouting out of the media. (K) TMR-dextran leakage in brachiocephalic artery plaques (red, arrowheads). L, lumen; m, media; p, plaque. Scale bar = 100 µm (A, H, K); 50 µm (F, I) and 25 µm (B–E and G, J).