Figure 3

Effect of different treatment on histopathological changes in LCCA sections by hematoxylin-eosin-stained (magnification, ×200).: deposit of calcium : deposit of lipid; : intima injury; : smooth muscle cells proliferation; : elastic fiber injury. A) The sham group sample: The structure of artery including intimal layer, medial layer and adventitia was clear; B) The model group sample (0 g/kg YXC × 0 h swimming): The arterial wall thickening was about 1/4 of A. Lipid in the intima increasing, deposit of calcium and smooth muscle hyperplasia of media were seen. And elastic fiber was damaged; C) 0 g/kg YXC × 0.5 h swimming group sample: The focal artery wall thickening, lipid and smooth muscle were seen; D) 0 g/kg YXC × 1 h swimming group sample: Obvious artery wall thickening was not seen, and smooth muscle of media increased slightly; E) 1 g/kg YXC × 0 h swimming group sample: Focal artery wall thickening, lipid deposit, focal deposit of calcium and slight smooth mucle cells were observed and less than group B; F) 1 g/kg YXC × 0.5 h swimming group sample and G) 1 g/kg YXC × 1 h swimming group sample: There were not obvious changes compared with model group; H) 2 g/kg YXC × 0 h swimming group sample: Smooth muscle of media increased slightly and focal deposit of calcium was seen; I) 2 g/kg YXC × 0.5 h swimming group sample: Smooth muscle of media increased slightly and focal deposit of calcium was seen in media.; and J) 2 g/kg YXC× 1 h swimming group sample: The focal endothelial cell injury and deposit of calcium were found. The abnormal changes can been seen in part of elastic fiber. The initial state of atherosclerosis was found in the section (B) of the model rats. The pathological changes were suppressed to some degree by the combination of 2 g/kg YXC and swimming (H-J), swimming alone (C, D) or 1 g/kg YXC alone (E).