Splanchnic-aortic inflammatory axis in experimental portal hypertension

Figure 2 Aortic abdominal wall microscopic images in long-term (22 mo) sham-operated rat (A) and in a triple partial portal vein ligated-rat (B). The aortic wall in the rat with portal hypertension is enlarged, has more fibrosis, with collagen deposition in the middle layer, a greater loss of the smooth muscular cell nucleus and much thinner elastic fibers than in the aortic wall of the sham-operated rat. They are also are distributed in an irregular manner (Masson, × 40).