Fig. 4.

Cd39 deletion results in less necrosis in advanced lesions from Western diet-fed mice. A: Acellular necrotic area was measured by hematoxylin and eosin staining on aortic sinus. B: Intra-lesion apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL assay on aortic sinus. C: Intra-lesion collagen content was quantified by Sirius red staining on aortic sinus. Necrotic and collagen-rich fibrotic areas were measured in four 50 μm distant sections per each animal, while the TUNEL-positive area was measured in one section per animal (n = 8 ApoE KO and 7 DKO mice for all the analyses). Representative images are shown (scale bar is 250 μm in (A) and (C), 50 μm in (B). All quantification data are presented as mean ± SEM of the percentage staining of the total plaque area. Setting a color threshold in ImageJ identified positive staining. **P < 0.01.