FIG. 5.

Tissue analysis by conventional hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) (AA and AC) and Gomori's Trichrome stainings (AB and AD) and immunohistochemistry of tissue-engineered uncrimped and crimped valves. Immunohistochemical staining against alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) (A, G, and M), collagen type I (B, H, and N), collagen type III (C, I, and O), elastin (D, J, and P), fibronectin (E, K, and Q), and chondroitin sulfate (F, L, and R). A human aortic valve was used as a positive control (M–R, AE, and AF). Endothelium analysis by SEM (AG and AJ, inner surface) and immunohistochemical staining against CD31 (AH and AK) for uncrimped and crimped valves. White lines (A and G) indicate the reference for the cell alignment measurement. White arrows (AH and AK) indicate the inner surface of the valve. Black arrows (AA and AB) indicate the textile mesh. Negative controls (S–X, AI, and AL) for all markers reacted in the absence of the primary antibody showed undetectable levels of staining. Scale bars: 50 μm. Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/tec