Research Paper Volume 16, Issue 11 pp 9876—9898
High estrogen induces trans-differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells to a macrophage-like phenotype resulting in aortic inflammation via inhibiting VHL/HIF1a/KLF4 axis
Figure 2. Detection of pathological changes in the aorta and serum inflammatory markers in mice. (A) The abdominal aorta was examined by pathology using HE, Masson’s trichome, and Picro-Sirius Red staining. (B–E) Peripheral blood of mice was taken and serum was centrifuged for analysis. E2, CRP, IL-6 and Ficonlin-1 levels were measured by ELISA. (F) The abdominal aorta of the model group was observed by TEM, which indicated slight swelling of organelles. The nucleus (N) was irregularly shaped and shrunken. Mitochondria (M) were abundant. The RER showed no obvious dilation and a large number of ribosomes attached to the surface. DPs and DBs were abundant and evenly distributed. Magnification 2500× and 7000×. **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001, indicating statistically significant data between groups; Abbreviation: ns indicates no statistical significance.