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Figure 3 Magnetic resonance images of a diseased rabbit abdominal aorta in the sagittal (A) and transverse (B) planes and corresponding histopathology. Panel A demonstrates diffuse and heterogeneous aortic plaque enhancement longitudinally from the renal artery to the distal segment 24 h after gadofluorine injection. Three slice locations (1, 2, 3) were used for transverse magnetic resonance images (B) and H&E staining (C). (B) Differences in signal intensity vary with slice location, and reflect differing plaque composition, with greater enhancement in sections with larger lipid content. (D) Corresponding histopathological sections, and plaque composition. In slice 2, a large lipid core corresponds to greatest plaque enhancement. Plaque at level 3 has a large lipid content with corresponding well with the greatest plaque enhancement. Ad = adventitia; F = loose fibrous tissue; FC = fibrous cap; L = lumen; LC = lipid core; M = macrophages. Reproduced, with permission, from Sirol et al. (30).