Figure 3. Characterization of vasculature in decellularized human myocardium.

A. Mean flow rates of each solution under constant pressure perfusion for non-DCD (n = 3 hearts) and DCD (n = 4) populations. Error bars are SEM.

B. Mean vascular resistance calculated under constant pressure perfusion for non-DCD (n = 3 hearts) and DCD (n = 4) populations. Error bars are SEM.

C. Pentachrome staining of decellularized LAD coronary artery. Adventitia (a), tunica media (m), tunica intima (i), exterior elastic lamina (ext), interior elastic lamina (int). Scale bar, 500 μm. Color indications: elastic fibers – black, collagen – yellow, fibrin – red, mucins – blue to green.

D. Scanning electron micrograph of cadaveric LAD coronary artery. Dotted white square indicates region of higher magnification. Scale bar, 500 μm (left) and 20 μm (right).

E. Scanning electron micrograph of decellularized LAD coronary artery. Dotted white square indicates region of higher magnification. Scale bar, 500 μm (left) and 20 μm (right).

F. Cardiac CT of a decellularized human heart. Left panel: long axis view. Right panel: posterior view. LCA, left coronary artery. LAD, left anterior descending coronary artery. OM, obtuse marginal coronary artery. LCX, left circumflex coronary artery. RCA, right coronary artery. AM: acute marginal coronary artery.

G. Three-dimensional reconstruction of microvasculature in a left ventricular segment of decellularized human heart. Scale bar, 1 mm.

H. Vessel density in epicardium, mid-myocardium, and endocardium of cadaveric (C, n = 3) and decellularized (D, n = 7) heart samples.

I. Distribution of vessel sizes in the epicardium, mid-myocardium, and endocardium of cadaveric human heart samples (n = 3).

J. Distribution of vessel sizes in the epicardium, mid-myocardium, and endocardium of decellularized human heart samples (n = 7).