FIGURE 3.

Intermittent fasting increases collagen content via inducing COL1A1 and COL3A1 expression. (A,B) The aortic root cross sections were used to determine collagen content by Picrosirius red staining with quantitative analysis of collagen positive areas. *p < 0.05 (n = 6). (C,D) The expression of COL1A1, COL3A1, MMP2, and MMP9 in plaques were determined by immunofluorescent staining with the quantification of positive staining areas. *p < 0.05, ns: not significant (n = 6). E: LDLR−/− mice were divided into the control or IF group (n = 6/group). After 2 weeks HFD feeding ad libitum or IF treatment, the mice aorta samples were collected. The expression of COL1A1, COL3A1, MMP2, and MMP9 were determined by qRT-PCR. *p < 0.05, ns: not significant (n = 6).