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Fig. 2 | Breast Cancer Research

Fig. 2

From: Murine breast cancer feed arteries are thin-walled with reduced α1A-adrenoceptor expression and attenuated sympathetic vasocontraction

Fig. 2

Breast cancer feed arteries are thin-walled compared to control arteries because of fewer vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in the tunica media. a-c Media thickness (a), media thickness/luminal diameter ratio (b), and media cross-sectional area (c) (n = 16). d Media thickness, media thickness/luminal diameter ratio, and media cross-sectional area of breast cancer feed arteries from a separate experimental series plotted as function of tumor volume (n = 13). The slopes of the best-fit linear functions did not differ significantly from zero: P = 0.71, 0.67, and 0.72, respectively. e Histological images representative of the wall structure in control arteries (upper panel) and breast cancer feed arteries (lower panel). Scale bar represents 10 μm; images are shown at the same magnification. The arrowheads demarcate the outer border of the media. f Volume fraction of VSMCs in the arterial media (n = 7–12). g-i. Volume (g), cross-sectional area (h), and length (i) of VSMCs (n = 7-12). j-k Number of VSMCs per unit artery length (j) and number of VSMC layers (k) (n = 7–12). Data were compared by the paired or unpaired two-tailed Student’s t test as appropriate, except for d where least-squares linear regression analyses were performed. **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. NS: not significantly different vs. control

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