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Methods Mouse thoracic aortas (immature n=4, mature n=5) fixed in vivo at physiological pressure via cannula in left ventricle Aorta excised, permeabilised (Triton X-100) and incubated in ribonuclease EC nuclei (ECn) stained with propidium iodide and viewed en face and stack of optical slices through wall obtained with inverted confocal microscope Individual ECn manually selected in each optical slice and montaged (Fig.2) ECn analysed for length-to-width (LW) ratio and angle of orientation in 8 regions surrounding ostia (Fig.2 inset) HAEMODYNAMIC STRESSES AND WALL STRUCTURE CAN ACCOUNT FOR THE PATTERN OF LIPID DEPOSITION AROUND AORTIC BRANCHES IN MICE A.R. Bond & P.D. Weinberg Physiological Flow Studies Group, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, UK Results We would like to thank the BHF for funding this study Discussion Pattern of nuclear elongation and alignment different to those previously found in rabbits (Al-Musawi et al, 2004) Length-to-width ratios were similar in all regions surrounding ostia (intimal cushion excluded) (P>0.05) Trends similar in young and mature mice (P>0.05) Length-to-width ratios of nuclei on cushion lower than elsewhere around ostia suggesting a region of disturbed flow that could correlate with chevron-shaped lesion distribution (P