International Journal of Clinical & Medical Images

The presence of dendritic cells in human atherosclerotic lesions and in atherosclerotic lesions in some animal models of atherosclerosis is well established [1]. However, whether dendritic cells do populate atherosclerotic lesions of rabbits with experimental hypercholesterolemia is still unknown. The micrographs included in the image show cells with typical ultrastructural features of dendritic cells [2]. The micrographs were obtained from sections of aortas of rabbits kept on cholesterol diet [3]. (Panel A): Semithin section of atherosclerotic lesion showing the area from which ultrastructural pictures were obtained; Section was stained with toluidine blue. (Panels B-D): Dendritic cells (marked by stars) containing cisterns of the tubulovesicular system (shown by arrows). Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Ultrathin sections were stained with lead citrate and uranyl acetate.