Fig. 3

Pro-atherogenic remodeling in thoracic aorta. a Sections of thoracic aorta were stained with HXE and images (Scale bar = 50 μm) were used for morphometric analysis of b intima-media thickness (IMT) and c lumen area. d Representative images of sections stained with picrosirius red (scale bar = 50 μm) were subjected to quantification of e collagen content relative to the total vascular area and f collagen-to-elastin ratio as a measure of arterial stiffness. g Sections were analyzed for elastin auto-fluorescence (scale bar = 50 μm; red arrows indicate breaks) and h the number of breaks/fragments in elastin laminae were counted. (i) Control, (ii) HFHF, (iii) PMCD, and (iv) HFHF+PMCD. Mean ± SEM (n = 6). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs control; ^##P < 0.01, ^###P < 0.001 vs HFHF; ⁺⁺P < 0.001, ⁺⁺⁺P < 0.001 vs PMCD. ns, non-significant