FIG. 5.

Exosomes reduce muscle damage and enhance vascularity of the ischemic hind limb in mice. (A) Histological sections from the hind limb of mice with femoral artery ligation. Scale bar = 50 μm. (B) The number of muscle fibers with degradation was reduced in the calf muscle with FGF-2 and exosome treatment in comparison to FGF-2 alone. *Statistically significant difference from alginate group (p < 0.05). (C) Immunohistochemical staining for PECAM-1 (blood vessels) in the muscles of the limb. Scale bar =50 μm. (D) Quantification of vessel density within the muscles. *Statistically significant difference from alginate or FGF-2-alone group (p < 0.05). ^†Statistically significant differences in comparison to all other groups (p < 0.05). PECAM-1, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule. Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/tea