Figure 7.
Confocal image of 3D angiogenic response into the type 1 collagen (2.0 mg/ml, polymerized at pH 7.4) induced by VEGF diffused from the right channel. (left) 3D projection image of the capillary-like structures formed by hMVEC on day 12 of culture, which was reconstructed from confocal z-stack images. hMVECs formed 3D capillary-like networks extending into the collagen gel, which were stained with CD-146 (hMVEC, red) and DAPI (nucleus, blue). (right) A single z-plane image and x-z and y-z cross-sectional images of the capillary-like networks. Image field corresponds to the left image. Arrowheads indicate a capillary-like structure which is continuous from the monolayer in the channel. An arrow in the x-z image indicates a lumen of the capillary-like structure.