Figure 2.

Branching morphogenesis of rat lung explant cultures treated with bombesin (Bomb), ghrelin (Grl), retinoic acid (RA), bombesin plus RA (Bomb + RA) or ghrelin plus RA (Grl + RA)

A, the upper panel is representative of normal lung explants (CTR) at day 0 (D₀); the bottom panel represents untreated lung explants (CTR) and explants treated with DMSO, Bomb, Grl, RA, Bomb plus RA or Grl plus RA on day 4 (D₄). B, morphometric analysis of the number of peripheral airway buds, epithelial perimeter and total area. C, the upper panel is representative of the hypoplastic lung explants (N) at D₀; the bottom panel represents untreated hypoplastic lung explants (N) and hypoplastic explants treated with Bomb or Grl on D₄. D, morphometric analysis of the number of peripheral airway buds, epithelial perimeter and total area. The results are expressed as the D₄/D₀ ratio. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001.