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Fig. 3 | Arthritis Research & Therapy

Fig. 3

From: Lymphatic muscle cells contribute to dysfunction of the synovial lymphatic system in inflammatory arthritis in mice

Fig. 3

The degenerative and apoptotic appearance of lymphatic muscle cells on the lymphatic vessels that drain arthritic joints of TNF-Tg mice with severe arthritis. Collecting LVs efferent foot area and adjacent blood vessels from 5- to 11-month-old TNF-Tg mice and WT littermates were subjected to electron microscopy. n = 3 mice/group. Representative images are shown. a An LV wall from a WT mouse, containing a lymphatic endothelial cell, lymphatic muscle cell, and empty lumen. b, c An LV wall from a TNF-Tg mouse showing contracted and smaller lymphatic muscle cells with condensed nuclear chromosome or apoptotic appearance (arrows). d A blood vessel wall from a WT mouse containing a blood endothelial cell, smooth muscle cells, and red blood cells in the lumen. e A blood vessel wall from a TNF-Tg mouse showing a smaller smooth muscle cell with nucleus condensation (arrow). EC, endothelial cell; MC, muscle cell; L, lumen; R, red blood cell. Bars are 2 μm

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