Fig. 4

Comparison of GQI (A) to histology with smooth muscle cell (SMC), extracellular matrix (ECM), and inflammatory cellular components in (B) and (C) from the same abdominal aorta section in 1% cholesterol diet + injury rabbit with thickened intima. The diffusion orientation in the vessel wall is related to the orientation of SMC. A The color in the 2D GQI slice contrasts fiber orientation between the intima and media via diffusion signal orientations, as in Figs. 1 and 2. B ɑ-SMA staining of a section from the same location. C Immunostaining of the sections with ɑ-SMA, trichrome, and CD-68. These sections show high heterogeneity and inflammation at a molecular level