Figure 3

Summary of plaque densities, radii and growth rates from all imaging cohorts. (a) Representative examples of imaged volumes from the young and old cohort displayed as 3D volume-rendered images. The length of one side of the squares represents 50 μm. (b) Mean plaque densities from the young (12 and 14 months) and old cohorts (18 months). (c) The kinetic of plaque density from long-term imaging (mean from 2 positions) is shown as black line. In addition, plaque densities for each imaged position with their respective means from different cohorts are displayed at the corresponding age. (d) The mean plaque radius and their corresponding cumulative frequency distributions (e) are depicted for each imaging cohort including newly formed plaques from young cohort (two month imaging). For the long-term imaging cohort plaque sizes at 27 months are shown. (f) Box plot for linear plaque growth rates and (g) their corresponding cumulative frequency distributions. Plaque growth from 18 to 20 months of age was significant different from zero (P < 0.0001). Error bars show 95% CI (b-d), Whiskers represent 10th and 90th percentile and outliers are not shown (f). Plaque densities and radii were logarithmized before analysis (b-e). Statistical tests: one-way ANOVA with Tukey-Kramer Post-hoc test (b, d), Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn’s Post-hoc test (f), Wilcoxon signed-rank test (f, 18 to 20 months), paired t-test (b, 12 vs 14 months). *** P < 0.001, **** P < 0.0001