Figure 4.
Immunofluorescence analysis of the tubular neuro-muscular tissue showed (A) positive stain for α-smooth muscle actin and (B) smooth muscle specific heavy Caldesmon indicating the maintenance of smooth muscle contractile phenotype. (C) DAPI staining (blue) showed maintenance of alignment of smooth muscle around the lumen. (D) Differentiated neurons were demonstrated by positive stain for β-III tubulin. DAPI stain shows the location of the smooth muscle with respect to neurons. (E) Tubular chitosan scaffold alone (control) showed negative stain for α-smooth muscle actin and (F) lack of any cellular alignment around the lumen of the scaffold. Scale bars are 100 μm.