Figure 8

Failure of resolution of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in Thy1^−/− mice, leading to persistent extracellular matrix accumulation. Mice were instilled with bleomycin (5 U/kg) by orotracheal MicroSprayer MS-IA-1C (Penn-Century). The lung tissue was collected at each time point, fixed (10% formalin), embedded (paraffin), and stained with Masson’s Trichrome after intratracheal instillation of bleomycin, revealing collagen accumulation with persistently abnormal lung architecture in Thy1^−/− mice at day 56, whereas Wt mice demonstrated restoration of normal appearing histology in most observed areas. (a) Masson’s Trichrome stain, × 10. (b) Quantification of collagen staining (% increase over Wt saline). (c) Immunoblots of Col I, in Wt and Thy1^−/− mice over time after bleomycin instillation. * P<0.05 when compared with Wt control group.