Fig. 4

Effect of GDF 15 deficiency on the morphology (SMC, 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 smooth muscle cells (α-actin⁺) in atherosclerotic plaques. B representative α-actin⁺ immuno-stained cross sections and C  Movat´s stain. L: Lumen, Nc: Necrotic core; TA: Tunica adventitia. Co: Collagen (yellow); Fc: Foam cells; Gs: Ground substance (light blue); Nc: Necrotic core. Black arrow: SMC cap; black broken arrows: SMC within tunica media. Data are expressed as mean + SEM; scale bar: 100 µm; n = 4–5