Figure 5
E 2 modulated atherosclerotic plaque characteristics in HSV culture induced by T + LDL. The thickness of TI (A), the percentage of PCNA expression (B) and foam cells (C) and the amount of VCAM expression (D) were modulated in the HSV rings cultured with T + nLDL + E2 (50 nM), or T + oxLDL + E2 (50 nM). Each dot line represents baseline valve of that in the syngeneic HSV rings on day 0. Significant differences among groups are indicated; * p - valves = 0.00, ** p - valves < 0.05, and *** = not significant. Photomicrographs illustrate histopathologic changes of the HSV rings cultured with T + oxLDL (F), T + oxLDL + E2 (50 nM) (G), or with T + oxLDL + E2 (25 nM) (H) for 14 days comparing to the syngeneic HSV on day 0 (E). * indicates cholesterol cleft, arrow indicates foam cell, and arrow head points at the fibrous cap, TI = T. intima and TM = T. media (H&E staining, original magnification x 400). The endothelial linings of HSV rings at D0 (I), cultured with TNF-α (5 ng/ml) (J), T + oxLDL (K), T + oxLDL + E2 (50 nM) (L), or T + oxLDL + E2 (25 nM) (M) were localized by immunostaining with anti-vWf and peroxidase substrate DAB (original magnification x 400). Arrowheads and arrows point the positive and negative reactivity of EC, respectively.