Fig 5. Cx43 overexpression following arterial engraftment is dampened by the use of an external mesh support.

Human veins were subjected to arterial pressure and flow for 7 days in absence or presence of the external mesh support. Cx37 transcripts (A) and protein (B) levels remain low in presence of the mesh. Cx40 transcript (C) and protein (D) levels tend to increase in presence of the mesh. Cx43 transcript (E) and protein (F) levels are decreased by the external support. Data are mean ± SEM of 4–8 experiments. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 versus the native segment. °p<0.05 ctrl versus external mesh.