Figure 6. The role of myelogenous cells in AAA susceptibility.

The chimeric mice, C57^bkg/C57^bm, SvEv^bkg/SvEv^bm, C57^bkg/SvEv^bm and SvEv^bkg/C57^bm, were subjected to CaCl₂ aneurysm induction. Aortic diameter changes were shown in the bar graph (a) (* P < 0.01 compared to NaCl control; # P < 0.05 C57^bkg/SvEv^bm vs. SvEv^bkg/C57^bm and C57^bkg/C57^bm vs. SvEv^bkg/SvEv^bm after CaCl₂ treatment). Bars represent the mean ± SD of 6 mice per group. Representative VVG staining of elastic fibers after aneurysm induction (b). Gelatin zymography of aortic MMP-2 and -9 levels in CaCl₂-treated C57^bkg/C57^bm (lane 1), C57^bkg/SvEv^bm (lane 2), SvEv^bkg/SvEv^bm (lane 3), and SvEv^bkg/C57^bm (lane 4) (c).