Figure 2. Serial passage of ECFCs from GDM pregnancies decreased proliferation and increased senescence.

(a) ³H-Thymidine incorporation assay to assess proliferation as described previously (13). Relative proliferation was calculated by dividing the scintillation count for individual culture conditions by the baseline value for control ECFCs then multiplying by 100, n=4. White bars indicate control ECFCs, and black bars indicated GDM ECFCs. Serial passaged GDM ECFCs were no longer more proliferative than similarly passaged control ECFCs (not significant by unpaired t test). (b) Senescence after serial passage. Frequency of SA-β-gal positive cells was measured in passage 7 ECFCs, n= 3, *p<0.05 by unpaired t test.