Fig 2.

Experimental design for in vivo studies. At time 0, arterial diameters were measured by digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Next, abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) were induced using balloon dilation (1) and endoluminal collagenase, elastase, and periadventitial calcium chloride (CaCl₂) treatment (2). When the AAA diameters had expanded to >40%, 1,2,3,4,6-pentagalloylglucose (PGG) was delivered endoluminally using a weeping balloon catheter (3), and the pigs were followed up for another 10 weeks, with DSA performed every 2 to 3 weeks to assess AAA development. The control pigs did not receive any PGG treatment. Blood was collected at every visit for full biochemistry analysis. On scheduled euthanasia, the aneurysmal aorta was excised and cut into 4 segments (A-D); 1- to 2-mm rings were then cut from each segment and fixed in formalin for histologic examination (H1-H5). Assays included phenol staining with ferric chloride (FeCl₃) for localization, measurement of ring opening angles as a measure of elastic recoil, and PGG extraction and quantification in arterial tissues. To evaluate remote organ toxicity, samples were also collected from the major organs and fixed in formalin for histologic analysis.