2.2 Histology
Thoracic aorta sections were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, then
embedded in paraffin. Morphological characteristics of thoracic aorta
were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. The media thickness
(MT) of thoracic aorta was defined as the region between the internal
and external elastic laminae. The MT/lumen diameter (LD) represented the
level of VR. Thoracic aorta fibrosis was assessed by Masson’s trichrome
staining. Collagen volume fraction (CVF) was quantified by measuring the
ratio of blue fibrotic area to total thoracic aorta area.