Fig. 7

Comparative analysis of TUNEL staining for apoptosis in end-stage Tg53 (A–C) vs. non-end-stage Tg53-lsd (D–G) rats. (A) End-stage Tg53 lesion exhibits TUNEL(+) (dark brown nuclei) cells close to site of rupture (red ), and in extracellular lipid noted in lesion. TUNEL (−) (blue nuclei) cells are few in this region of rupture; bar = 25 microns. (B) High magnification (bar = 10 microns) of Panel A reveals TUNEL(+) endothelial cells () and macrophage foam cells () in area with endothelial erosion. (C) Another high magnification of Panel A demonstrates TUNEL(+) endothelial cells () and macrophage foam cells () close to disrupted lesion surface (red ); TUNEL(−) nuclei (blue); bar = 10 microns. (D) and (E) High magnification of non-end-stage Tg53-lsd proximal coronary lesion (shown in Fig. 6, I–L) reveals mild TUNEL(+) stained cells in intimal lesion and lesion side medial smooth muscle cells (➨); bars = 10 microns. (F) and (G) High magnification views of Tg53-lsd lesions (shown in Fig. 6A and 6E respectively) reveal minimal, if any, TUNEL(+) macrophage foam cells and smooth muscle cell (➨); TUNEL(−) cells exhibit blue nuclei in contrast; bars = 10 microns.(➩), internal elastic laminae; (ad), adventitia; (fc), foam cells; (m), media.