Pharmacological Induction of Transforming Growth Factor-Beta1 in Rat Models Enhances Radiation Injury in the Intestine and the Heart
Figure 5
Immunohistochemical evidence of myofibroblasts after local heart irradiation.
Immunohistochemistry with anti α-SMC antibodies revealed vascular smooth muscle cells with positive staining (arrow) and spindle shaped non-vascular cells with cross-striational α-SMC staining (myofibroblasts, arrowheads) (A). These myofibroblasts were detected in irradiated hearts only, in subendocardial areas near the cardiac valves (B). These areas showed severe fibrosis in the Picrosirius Red+Fast Green staining (C).