Figure 4

Multitarget characterization of the plaque-burden and inflammatory activity by molecular MRI at different phases of plaque development and in response-to-therapy. (A–C) Cross-sectional histological/immunofluorescence sections (A1-4: Elastica-van-Giesson stain, B1-4: Perls’-Prussian-blue-stain, C1-4: Immunofluorescence-macrophage-stain) of brachiocephalic-arteries of control and ApoE^−/− mice two-months, four-months of HFD and statin-treatment. (D,E) T1 and T2*-weighted-imaging with corresponding histology. D1-4: On T1-weighted sequences, a significant increase of vessel-wall-enhancement is in the vessel wall, corresponding to an increased elastin deposition in atherosclerotic-plaque after four-months of HFD. Only a slight increase can be visualized after two-months and following statin-treatment. E1-4: A pronounced signal-void can already be seen after two-months of high-fat-diet, reflecting an already pronounced accumulation of iron-oxide-particles in the atherosclerotic-plaque. The most pronounced signal-void can be observed after four-months of high-fat-diet with almost 50% of the vascular lumen affected by the signal-void. Following statin-treatment, a comparable signal-void to the two-months group is visualized. (A–D) Scale corresponds to 100 µm. (E,F) Scale corresponds to 500 µm.