Fig. 3

Effect of GDF-15 deficiency on morphology (MΦ, foam cells, collagen) of atherosclerotic plaques in the pulmonary trunk (PT). Immunohistomorphometric analyses of atherosclerotic lesions in the PT of ApoE^−/− and GDF15^−/−ApoE^−/− mice after 20 weeks of CED. A CD68⁺ -cells in atherosclerotic plaques, B, C representative CD68⁺ immuno-stained cross sections and (D, E) Movat´s stain, L: Lumen, Nc: Necrotic core; TA: Tunica adventitia. Co: Collagen (yellow); Fc: Foam cells; Gs: Ground substance (light blue); Black arrow: CD68⁺ MΦ. Red arrow: elastic lamina rupture. Data are expressed as mean + SEM; scale bar: 100 µm, n = 4–5