Figure 1.

Representative Raman images and immunofluorescence (IF) staining and histochemistry for WT, fibulin-5 knockout (Fbln5^KO), and smooth muscle-specific fibulin-4 knockout (Fbln4^SMKO) mice

(A) Raman images of large-area scans. Cross-sections of the ascending aorta from WT, Fbln5^KO, and Fbln4^SMKO. False-color intensity distribution heatmaps for elastic fibers (green), collagen fibers (red), nuclei (blue), aggrecan (yellow), versican (pink), lipids (orange), and residual ECM (cyan). Scale bars, 50 μm.

see also Figure S1.

(B) Gross photos of murine aortas of WT, Fbln5^KO, and Fbln4^SMKO mice. Fbln5^KO exhibits elongation of the ascending aorta and tortuous descending aorta. Fbln4^SMKO shows a large aneurysm in the ascending aorta but not in the descending aorta. Scale bars, 1 mm.

(C) IF staining for collagen type I, aggrecan, and versican in red, elastin autofluorescence (green), and nuclei (blue). Scale bars, 20 μm.

(D) Routine histochemical staining for Alcian blue (glycosaminoglycans) and oil red O (lipid) staining.

Scale bars, 20 μm. L, luminal side.