FIG. 4.

Immunohistochemical analysis of bioengineered constructs. Day 10–12 constructs were analyzed for the presence of contractile smooth muscle, glial, and neuronal markers. The presence of glial cells was demonstrated by positive staining for GFAP (A), while neuronal cells stained positive for BIII tubbulin (B). Mature, contractile smooth muscle was visualized by positive staining for smooth muscle Cal D (C). Differentiated neuronal cells capable of producing the excitatory neurotransmitter Ach were positive for ChAT (D). Evidence for two physiologically important inhibitory neurotransmitters was demonstrated by positive staining to VIP (E) and nNOS (F). Scale bar 200 μm. Ach, acetylcholine; ChAT, choline acetyltransferase; nNOS, neuronal nitric oxide synthase; VIP, vasoactive intestinal peptide. Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/tea