Figure 3

Simvastatin reduced VILI-associated endothelial injury. In lung sections of non ventilated, sham treated mice (NV) (a, b) and non-ventilated, simvastatin treated mice (NV + Simva) (c, d), structurally intact capillaries containing numerous caveolae and vesicles in endothelial cells were seen. In lung sections of ventilated, sham treated mice (6 h Vent.) (e, f), capillaries showed pronounced endothelial cell swelling as well as loss of intracellular vesicles and caveolae. Lungs of ventilated, simvastatin treated mice (6 h Vent. + Simva) (g, h) had intact capillaries, and neither signs of endothelial cell swelling, nor reduction of intracellular vesicles was observed. (Representative images out of n = 8 each group are shown. Bar 2 μm).