Fig. 3. Effect of SMC-specific Pde4d deficiency on Ang II-induced AAA in mice.

AAAs were induced by Ang II infusion (1000 ng kg⁻¹ min⁻¹) and administered an HFD for 28 days, and controls were infused with saline. Mouse AAA aortas were dissected at the maximal suprarenal outer aortic diameter, and controls were collected from corresponding suprarenal abdominal aortas of the control mice. a Diagrammatic drawing of the mouse model of Ang II-induced AAA. Apoe^−/−Pde4d^flox/flox (n = 6) and Apoe^−/−Pde4d^SMC−/− (n = 6) with saline infusion and Apoe^−/−Pde4d^flox/flox (n = 11) and Apoe^−/−Pde4d^SMC−/− (n = 11) with Ang II infusion. b Representative images of the entire aortas in the indicated groups. c Quantification of the maximal external diameter (mm) of the abdominal aorta measured by two different investigators using a stereoscope. *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001, Welch ANOVA with Dunnett’s T3 post hoc test, mean ± SEM, Apoe^−/−Pde4d^flox/flox (n = 6) and Apoe^−/−Pde4d^SMC−/− (n = 6) with saline infusion, Apoe^−/−Pde4d^flox/flox (n = 11) and Apoe^−/−Pde4d^SMC−/− (n = 11) with Ang II infusion. d Representative images of elastin staining of the mouse arterial wall. L: lumen. e Quantification of the elastin degradation score from the four indicated groups in (d). Elastin staining is indicated by the darkest color. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, Mann–Whitney test, mean ± SEM, Apoe^−/−Pde4d^flox/flox (n = 5) and Apoe^−/−Pde4d^SMC−/− (n = 5) with saline infusion, Apoe^−/−Pde4d^flox/flox (n = 5) and Apoe^−/−Pde4d^SMC−/− (n = 5) with Ang II infusion.