fig4

Figure 4. Effect of diclofenac on venous remodeling, in vivo. Imaging of the mice auricular vein vasculature immediately after and 4 days after ligation of the auricle vein revealed an increase in tortuosity and diameter of veins connected to the occluded venous network (arrow in A, ***P < 0.001 vs. control 0 d, n = 10). This was significantly inhibited (arrowheads in A, ^##P < 0.01 vs. control 4 d, n = 10) by local administration of diclofenac (Voltaren Spray^®). Control auricles were treated with an inert solvent. Original diameter of the remodeling veins was set to 1. Mouse auricle tissue (control, 4 d) was fixed, paraffin-embedded and cross-sections of veins were analyzed by immunofluorescence staining to detect CD31 (endothelial cell marker) and COX-2 in combination with DAPI. COX-2 was barely detected in veins undergoing no remodeling process (B and C), but was detectable in endothelial cells of remodeling veins (arrows in D and E, scale bar: 50 µm).