FIG. 4.

cmVHL^−/− hearts exhibit nonuniform hypovascularity. (A and B) Anti-PECAM immunostaining reveals a significant decrease in average capillary counts in cmVHL^−/− hearts. (C) Despite decreased average capillary counts, there was an increase in total PECAM and Flt-1 protein in cmVHL^−/− hearts, possibly attributed to myocardial infiltration by PECAM/Flt-1-positive inflammatory cells (Fig. 2C and F). (D and E) Casts of the coronary vasculature demonstrate regional variability and decreased macrovascular density in cmVHL^−/− hearts. *, n ≥ 5 hearts per genotype for vessel counts; n = 4 hearts per genotype for casts.