Figure 5.

Nicotinamide inhibited CaCl₂-induced AAA formation. (A) AAA diameter (n = 5–6). (B) Representative zymogram (upper panel) and quantified data (bottom panel) for aortic MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities (n = 3). (C) Representative histology; H&E, Mac-3 (macrophages), and VVG (elastin fragmentation). (D) Alizarin red (left panel, aortic calcification) and quantified data (right, n = 3). Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post hoc analysis. CaCl₂, calcium chloride; H&E, haematoxylin & eosin; L, lumen; Mac, macrophage; Nam, nicotinamide; VVG, Verhoeff-van Gieson.