Quantification of smooth muscle cells within atherosclerotic plaques.

<p>Smooth muscle cells were stained in the aortic sinus using an immunofluorescent antibody targeting alpha smooth muscle actin. Significant amounts of smooth muscle cells were detected in 7 DMSO-treated animals and in 8 JZL184-treated animals (A, B; white arrows). The proportion of smooth muscle cells to the plaque area was unaffected by JZL184 (C). Data are presented as mean ± standard error of the mean; n = 7–8; p-value as indicated, assessed by student’s t-test. Scale bar, 200 μm. α-SMA, alpha smooth muscle actin; Cy3, cyanine 3; DAPI, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide; JZL184, inhibitor of monoacylglycerol lipase.