Investigation of Atherosclerotic Plaque Vulnerability

Histochemical and immunohistochemical approaches permit the detection and evaluation of proteins and cell types within murine brachiocephalic artery atherosclerotic plaques, that can be subsequently analyzed to provide inferences on atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability. Here we describe the specific histochemical techniques deployed to examine the expression of elastin, fibrillar collagens, and neutral lipids, alongside immunohistochemistry protocols for the identification of macrophages (CD68) and vascular smooth muscle cells (α-smooth muscle actin). We will also describe how analyses derived from these methods can be combined to determine evidence of previous plaque rupture and susceptibility to rupture.