Fig. 2. Apoptosis in the BCA.
Cross-sections shown in images A-D were stained for apoptosis using TUNEL. Cell nuclei are stained with DAPI (blue), elastin sheets auto-fluoresce in green, and apoptotic cells are labeled with FITC-TUNEL (bright green). (A) 20X image of the BCA obtained from a high fat fed ApoE−/− mouse, and (B) zoomed image of the boxed area in (A) showing elevated apoptosis. (C) 20X image of the BCA obtained from a normal diet fed wildtype mouse, and (D) zoomed image of the boxed area in (C) showing no sign of apoptosis. (E) TUNEL-positive ECs per cm in the in the wildtype vs. ApoE−/− (including plaque and non-plaque areas). N=86 sections from 6 animals for ApoE−/−, N=73 sections from 5 animals for wild type (data points represent the mean of each animal); *p<0.0001 by non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. (F) TUNEL-positive ECs per cm in plaque and non-plaque areas of the ApoE−/− BCA. N=86 sections; *p<0.0001 by paired t-test.
