Figure 3.

Effect of soy and radiation on smooth muscle cells in muscularis mucosae (MMs). Esophagus tissue sections obtained from the experiments described in Figure 1 were stained with anti-αSMA by IHC for detection of smooth muscle cells in MM. Insets 1 and 2 show a low and high power view of normal esophagus highlighting MM. (A) Sections from control mice and (B) sections from mice treated with soy showed comparable morphology and thickening of MM. (C) αSMA staining confirmed thickening of LP and MM caused by radiation and smooth muscle cell enlargement (circles in C.1), large empty vacuoles, and condensation of nuclei in MM (circles in C3). Interruptions in the integrity of MM layer were also observed (arrows in C.2). (D) Sections from mice treated with soy + radiation showed reduced smooth muscle cell hypertrophy and limited disintegration of MM compared to radiation alone. All magnifications ×100.