AAV9SLR-mediated hpAP-1 cons hp dONs delivery in aortic grafts from mgR/mgR mice improves elastin architecture. (A) Representative bright-field microscopy images of elastic van Gieson staining of aortic cryosections of the indicated treatment groups, explanted 30 days after surgery. Elastin is stained in black, collagen appears in red and cell nuclei are black-brown. Black arrows indicate ‘islands of damage’, defined as an isolated area of the aortic wall where two adjacent elastic fibres were fragmented with interposed excessive connective tissue.²³ (B) Statistical quantification of the number of ‘islands of damage’ in different treatment groups (n = 6, 30 images analysed/group, ***P < 0.001). Scale bar represents 50 μm. Data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by a post hoc Tukey multiple comparison test.