Figure 3.

Vessel density ratio of smooth muscle actin. Vessel density based on actin staining was performed and quantitated as defined in Methods. The ratio of the vessel density between the ischemic and nonischemic limb in the proximal region was >1.0 in all three groups, suggesting that arteriogenesis was occurring in all groups in that region. The ratio of the vessel density between the ischemic and nonischemic limbs was significantly greater in the proximal region in the VEGF and IRES (−) animals as compared with the placebo group (P < 0.05), suggesting that VEGF increased arteriogenesis proximally. A minimum of three animals was used for the group.