Intensity data of VCAM-1, ICAM-1, thrombomodulin and eNOS quantitative immunohistochemical stainings in carotid arteries of irradiated ApoE^−/− mice treated with control chow, NCX 4016 (60 mg/kg/day) or high dose ASA (300 mg/kg/day) containing chow for 4 weeks.

<p>Average ± SEM (n = 10).</p><p>*compared with control chow at the same position (p<0.05).</p

Platelet aggregation ex vivo in whole blood of unirradiated and irradiated mice treated with control chow, NCX 4016 (60 mg/kg/day), low dose (30 mg/kg/day) or high dose ASA containing chow (300 mg/kg/day).

<p>Data represents group means ± SEM (n = 4–6) * Indicates significant differences between high dose ASA and control chow (p<0.05 by Mann-Whitney U test).</p

Morphometric analysis of lesions in unirradiated carotid arteries (A–D) and aortic arches (E-H) of ApoE^−/− mice treated with control chow (n = 9), NCX 4016 (60 mg/kg/day) (n = 12) or high dose ASA containing chow (300 mg/kg/day) (n = 12) for 30 weeks.

<p>Bar graphs show the mean number of total (A, E), initial (macrophage rich, without a thick fibrous cap) (B, F) and advanced (well-defined, necrotic/lipid core or thick fibrous cap) (D, H) lesions per animal. Total plaque area is shown in C and G. Data represents group means ± SEM. * Indicates significant differences between NCX 4016 or high dose ASA and control chow (p<0.05 by Mann-Whitney U test).</p

Collagen content of advanced lesions in carotid arteries (A) and aortic arches (brachiocephalic artery) (B) of unirradiated and irradiated male ApoE−/− mice treated with control chow, NCX 4016 (60 mg/kg/day), low dose (30 mg/kg/day) or high dose ASA (300 mg/kg/day) containing chow for 30 weeks.

<p>Data represents group means ± SEM. * p<0.05 compared with unirradiated mice with the same chow, <i>^#</i> p<0.05 compared with control chow (Mann-Whitney U test).</p

Immunohistochemical stainings of inflammatory and thrombotic markers.

<p>A) VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression of carotid arteries with adjacent CD31 staining. Expression levels of VCAM-1 (B), ICAM-1 (C), thrombomodulin (D) and eNOS (E) in endothelial cells of carotid arteries of irradiated ApoE^−/− treated with control chow, NCX 4016 (60 mg/kg/day) or high dose ASA (300 mg/kg/day) containing chow. Bar graphs show the mean expression levels at three positions in the carotid artery: −1; below the bifurcation, 0; at the bifurcation, 1; above the bifurcation and are corrected for the percentage of intact endothelium detected with CD31. Data represents group means ± SEM (n = 10) * Indicates significant differences between high dose ASA and control chow at the same position and ^# indicates significant difference between position -1 and 1(p<0.05 by Mann-Whitney U test).</p

Morphometric analysis of lesions in irradiated carotid arteries (A–D) and aortic arches (E-H) of ApoE^−/− mice treated with control chow (n = 10), NCX 4016 (60 mg/kg/day) (n = 11), low dose (30 mg/kg/day) (n = 11) or high dose ASA containing chow (300 mg/kg/day) (n = 8) for 30 weeks.

<p>Bar graphs show the mean number of total (A, E), initial (macrophage rich, without a thick fibrous cap) (B, F) and advanced (well-defined, necrotic/lipid core or thick fibrous cap) (D, H) lesions per animal. Total plaque area is shown in C and G. Data represents group means ± SEM. * Indicates significant differences between high dose ASA and control chow (p<0.05 by Mann-Whitney U test).</p

Estimated food/drug intake, body weight and plasma cholesterol levels.

<p>Values are group means ± SEM. Cholesterol levels were measured in half of the mice after 30 weeks of treatment.</p><p>*p<0.05 compared with unirradiated mice with the same chow.</p>#<p>p<0.05 compared with control chow with the same radiation dose.</p