Figure 2. Macroscopic and microscopic features of the plugs two and eight weeks after implantation.

Plugs were harvested two (A) and eight weeks (B) after subcutaneous co-transplantation of ECFC+MSPC (ratio 80∶ 20, left column), MSPC only (2^nd column), ECFC only (3^rd column), and cell-free matrix (right column). Representative macroscopic pictures of plugs in subcutaneous location (upper rows), micrographs of hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE, middle rows) and immune histochemistry combining human CD31 colored brown with hematoxylin counter-stain (huCD31, bottom rows) are depicted. Total cell number within the plugs was 2×10⁶ per 300 µL matrix (n = 3 per group and time course).