Table 3.
Parameters Characterizing the Formation of Endothelial Networks in Fibrin Coculture BAMs with a Total of 1 × 106 Cells with 50% (A), 40% (B), and 30% (C) HUVECs or with a Total of 2 × 106 Cells with 50% (D), 40% (E), and 30% (F) HUVECs
| A (n = 37) | B (n = 8) | C (n = 5) | D (n = 219) | E (n = 65) | F (n = 50) | A–B | A–C | A–D | B–E | C–F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total # cells in BAM | 1 × 106 | 1 × 106 | 1 × 106 | 2 × 106 | 2 × 106 | 2 × 106 | |||||
| # Muscle cells | 5 × 105 | 6 × 105 | 7 × 105 | 10 × 105 | 12 × 105 | 14 × 105 | |||||
| # HUVECs | 5 × 105 | 4 × 105 | 3 × 105 | 10 × 105 | 8 × 105 | 6 × 105 | |||||
| % branching length | 20.96 ± 13.28 | 39.05 ± 15.67 | 48.29 ± 8.19 | 76.36 ± 11.84 | 79.21 ± 8.01 | 75.92 ± 11.05 | ** | *** | *** | *** | *** |
| Number of isolated segments | 51.24 ± 14.29 | 36.00 ± 8.40 | 29.60 ± 2.70 | 18.72 ± 9.89 | 15.37 ± 4.78 | 16.44 ± 5.41 | ** | *** | *** | *** | *** |
| Number of junctions | 3.62 ± 2.64 | 7.63 ± 4.03 | 8.60 ± 2.61 | 47.43 ± 21.61 | 50.13 ± 13.54 | 49.64 ± 28.78 | ** | ** | *** | *** | *** |
| Number of branches | 7.78 ± 4.92 | 15.13 ± 6.47 | 15.40 ± 5.37 | 45.96 ± 13.84 | 48.33 ± 9.68 | 46.14 ± 17.55 | ** | ** | *** | *** | *** |
| Total length (μm) | 16422 μm ± 3591 | 20349 μm ± 5295 | 21488 ± 4574 | 38262 μm ± 7147 | 39920 μm ± 4942 | 40165 ± 8298 | * | * | *** | *** | *** |
| Number of meshes | 0.49 ± 0.8035 | 0.75 ± 0.71 | 1.00 ± 0.70 | 10.50 ± 7.14 | 12.35 ± 5.182 | 12.38 ± 8.82 | NS | NS | *** | *** | *** |
In the last five columns, statistical significances are shown for comparisons of indicated groups. Comparisons B–C, D–E, D–F, and E–F were also made, but did not result in statistically significant differences for any of the parameters. For multiple comparisons within groups [1 × 106 total cell count (A–C) or 2 × 106 total cell count (D–F)], a nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn's post-test was used. For pairwise comparisons between groups (A–D, B–E, and C–F), a Mann–Whitney test was performed.