Figure 3.

Reduced recruitment of inflammatory cells to subcutaneously implanted PP mesh in C3^−/− mice. PP mesh (5×5 mm) was implanted subcutaneously in the dorsal area of C3^−/− or C3^+/+ mice, and the biomaterial was retrieved 2 wk after implantation. A) Representative H&E-stained samples of PP meshes retrieved from C3^−/− or C3^+/+ mice are depicted, with surrounding stroma (diamonds) showing leukocytic infiltration and the presence of multinucleated giant cells surrounding the empty spaces indicative of the implant area (interface). B, C) Assessment of inflammatory cell density in the stroma (B) or at the mesh interface (C) in C3^−/− and C3^+/+ mice (n=7/strain). Cell density is expressed as the number of inflammatory nuclei per ×60 HPF (B) or per 100 length units in a ×40 field (C). *P < 0.05; unpaired t test.