Research Paper Volume 11, Issue 19 pp 8604—8622

Tryptophan metabolite 5-methoxytryptophan ameliorates arterial denudation-induced intimal hyperplasia via opposing effects on vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells

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Figure 2. 5-MTP increases endothelial coverage following arterial denudation. Arteries from uninjured and injured mice were harvested and sectioned for histological analysis. (AC) Four weeks after injury, arterial sections from uninjured (A) and injured-vehicle (B) or injured-5-MTP (C) mice were stained with CD31 antibody to delineate endothelium (brown, arrowhead). A line with arrowheads at both ends indicates neointima (neo). med, media. (DF) Two weeks after injury, longitudinal arterial sections from uninjured (D), injured vehicle-treated (E), and injured 5-MTP-treated (F) mice were stained with Verhoeff’s elastin stain. (GI) Magnified areas from boxed area in (DF), respectively. (J) Quantitative morphometric analysis of intima/media ratio in vehicle (1.45±0.24, n=13) and 5-MTP-treated (0.60±0.09, n=12) mice (*p=0.0056 vs. vehicle). (KM) CD31 immunohistochemistry to identify endothelial cells (brown). Artery from uninjured (K), Injured vehicle-treated (L), and injured 5-MTP-treated (M) mice. (NP) Magnified areas from upper box of (KM), respectively. (QS) Magnified areas from lower box of (KM), respectively. (T) Quantitation of endothelial coverage in vehicle (47.9±2.3%, n=10) and 5-MTP-treated mice (78.6±3.7%, n=10; *p=0.000001).