Fig. 3

Representative immunohistochemistry photomicrographs and respective quantification of CD68⁺ and CD163⁺ macrophage density. Positive cell density determined as the number of positive cells by area unit (10⁴ μm²). a, c Very few CD68⁺ cells were observed. e CD68⁺ cells were observed (black arrows). g Few CD68⁺ cells were observed. b, d, f, Very few CD163⁺ cells were observed. h CD163⁺ cells were observed (black arrows). Lines represent medians, and whiskers are the interquartile range of seven animals in each group. Comparisons by Student’s t test followed by Bonferroni’s corrections for three comparisons (*p < 0.0167). CTRL control, MCT monocrotaline, SAL saline