FIG. 3.
Real-time measurements of cytosolic calcium concentration [Ca2+]cyt in platelet suspension exposed to acellular collagen hydrogel and tissue-engineered vessel constructs. Fura-2-loaded human platelets were exposed to the luminal surface of TEML or acellular hydrogel for 15 min at 37°C (A), then the constructs were removed, and the [Ca2+]cyt in the remaining suspension was recorded and stimulated with 0.2 U/mL thrombin (B). Post-thrombin stimulation of all tissue-engineered constructs was recorded following a 15-min preincubation performed offscreen. Results are representative of four experiments. TEML, tissue-engineered medial layer; TEIL, tissue-engineered intimal layer; TEBV, tissue-engineered blood vessel; Thr, thrombin. Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/tec