Figure 3.

SEM and TEM of the luminal surface of the vein grafts. SEM of luminal surface of the vein grafts (A, C, E) and TEM of VECs (B, D, F) are shown. The control vein grafts taken 3 h after grafting exhibited significant attachment of red blood cells and platelets as well as detached VECs. CO-treated grafts exhibited a continuous layer of endothelium with minimal alterations from naïve vein. The beneficial effects of CO in preventing morphological changes of the vein grafts after grafting were completely abrogated when CO-treated grafts were incubated with YC-1. EC, endothelial cells; SMC, smooth muscle cells; N, nucleus.