Fig. 4.

Combinatorial inhibition of plasmin and MMPs abrogates the formation of vascular guidance channels. Shown are confocal reflectance images of the tip region of sprouting vessels in the ASC-HUVEC fibrin tissue co-culture. The left column represents a plane encompassing the vessel (rough outline of vessel edge in red), whereas the middle column is that of a plane 20–30 μm above the vessel, used to illustrate the vascular guidance channel (asterisks). The right column shows magnified images of the respective guidance channels to detail matrix degradation. Arrowheads represent areas of ECM degradation which serve as possible conduits for vessel elongation. Images are overexposed to more easily visualize guidance channels. Scale bar = 20 μm