Figure 6

Reduction in radiation-induced α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression with serum amyloid P (SAP) treatment. Hamsters were exposed to radiation and treated with SAP (2 mg/kg, i.p. every 2 days from days 0 to 12, daily from days 0 to 7, or every 2 days from days -1 to 26) or vehicle control (phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), i.p. every 2 days from days 0 to 12). At either 16 or 28 days post-radiation, animals were killed and cheek pouches removed, sectioned and stained with anti-α-SMA to visualize myofibroblast accumulation and vascular smooth muscle cells. (A-H) Representative histopathology from irradiated cheek pouches from the vehicle groups (A) at day 16 and (B) day 28; from the first SAP group (2 mg/kg every 2 days, days -1 to 26) at (C) day 16 and (D) day 28; from the second SAP group (2 mg/kg daily, days 0 to 7) at (E) day 16 and (F) day 28; and from the third SAP group (2 mg/kg every 2 days, days 0 to 12) at day 16 (G) and day 28 (H).