Research Paper Volume 11, Issue 19 pp 8120—8138
The interaction between STAT3 and nAChRα1 interferes with nicotine-induced atherosclerosis via Akt/mTOR signaling cascade
Figure 6. Inactivation of STAT3 attenuates nicotine-induced plaque development in vivo. (A) Lesions in en face aortas, as determined by oil red O staining and imaging. Arrow means atherosclerotic lesion. (B) Lesions in aortic root cross-sections, as determined by HE and Masson staining. Magnification, 100×; bars, 200 μm. (C) The components of atherosclerotic lesions were determined by a-SMA and Mac3 staining. Magnification, 200×; bars, 100 μm. (D) The expression of p-STAT3 in atherosclerotic lesions. Magnification, 200×; bars, 100 μm. Abbreviations: NCD, normal chow diet; HFD, high fat diet; Ni, nicotine. The data were presented as the mean ± SD, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 (n=6).