Chlamydia pneumoniae Infection Exacerbates Atherosclerosis in ApoB100only/LDLR^−/− Mouse Strain

Figure 1

Morphometric analyses of atherosclerotic plaques in ApoB100only/LDLR^−/− mice. (a) Measurements for the length of the aortic luminal surface (perimeter) covered by plaque (PAP/AP × 100); (b) percentage of aortic lumen area occupied by plaques (PLA/LA × 100) in 8 cross sections of aortic root from each ApoB100only/LDLR^−/− mouse in groups kept on normal diet without Cpn infection (number of mice () = 6) or infected with Cpn 3 times () or on high-fat/high-cholesterol diet for 12 weeks without Cpn infection () or infected with Cpn 3 times (). Average percentage values from individual mice and mean percentages in groups are shown. PAP: plaque-covered aorta perimeter; AP: aorta perimeter; PLA: plaque-occupied lumen area; LA: aorta lumen area. (c) Plaque size was measured in the longitudinally opened descending aorta of each ApoB100only/LDLR^−/− mouse in groups kept on normal or high-fat/high-cholesterol diet for 12 weeks without Cpn infection or infected with Cpn 3 times. The percentage of total aorta area covered by plaques was calculated. Data show the results of one of two independent experiments. For comparison of groups independent-samples -test was used, . ND: normal diet; HFD: high-fat/high-cholesterol diet; 3x: three intranasal Cpn infections.

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