Caspase-3 Deletion Promotes Necrosis in Atherosclerotic Plaques of ApoE Knockout Mice

Figure 5

Caspase-3 deficiency increases plaque necrosis in ApoE^−/− mice. Casp3^+/+ApoE^−/− mice (Casp3^+/+) () and Casp3^−/−ApoE^−/− mice (Casp3^−/−) () were fed a western-type diet for 16 weeks. (a) Aortic root atherosclerotic plaques were stained with H&E to quantify plaque necrosis (the necrotic cores are indicated by an asterisk). (b, c) Serial sections were immunostained for Mac-3 and α-SMC-actin to determine macrophage content (Mac-3 positive regions are indicated by black circles) and vascular smooth muscle cell content (α-SMC-actin positive fibrous caps are indicated by black arrowheads), respectively. (d) Serial sections were stained with Sirius red to quantify total collagen content (characterized by intense pink/red staining). (, , and NS, not significant, versus Casp3^+/+; repeated measures) scale bar: 150 μm.

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