Fig. 3

HFD triggered the development of HT-like autoimmunity. A Representative thyroid images under ultrasound scanning (n = 5). Red arrows: thyroid gland. B Representative thyroid sections stained with H&E (n = 10; Magnification ×400). Red arrows: infiltrated monocytes. C Representative thyroid sections stained with Masson’s trichrome (n = 5; Magnification ×400). Red arrows: thyroid fibrosis. D Representative immunofluorescence staining images showing TUNEL-labeled (green) apoptotic cells counterstained with DAPI (blue) in thyroids (n = 5; Magnification×400). Red arrows: apoptotic cells. E Serum levels of thyroiditis-related parameters, including TPOAb, TgAb, T3, T4 and TSH (n = 10). F Quantitation of the degree of monocyte infiltration in thyroids using H&E. Values were mean ± SEM; ^*p < 0.05, ^**p < 0.01, and ^***p < 0.001; ns, no statistical significance