Fig. 2From: Regular exercise modulates cardiac mast cell activation in ovariectomized ratsEffect of regular exercise on the density (a) and percentage of degranulation (b) of cardiac mast cells (MCs) in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Images are transverse sections of the ventricle at ×40 magnification from sham-operated controls (SHAM) and from OXV rats with no further treatment (OXV), with estrogen supplementation (OVX + E2), or with exercise training (OVX + Ex). Cardiac MCs were identifiable by their dark-purple coloration (arrowheads) due to toluidine staining. Box plot of number of cardiac MCs per tissue area (a) and percentage MC degranulation (b) from the Sham-operated (control) group (SHAM) and from the three treatment groups of OXV rats (+oil, +E2, +EX). Top and bottom of box Minimum and maximum values, horizontal line within the box median. Data are from 6–7 hearts in each group. Asterisk and hash symbols Significant difference (P < 0.05) from SHAM and OVX groups, respectively, using the Student–Newman–Keuls test after ANOVABack to article page