Figure 4.

Damage to capillary network and revascularization in skeletal muscle injected with Bothrops asper venom, expressed as capillary/muscle fiber ratio (A) and capillaries per mm² (B), assessed by immunohistochemistry with anti-CD31 antibody, a marker of endothelial cells. A drastic drop in capillaries occurred in the first hours after envenoming, followed by a process of revascularization. (C–E) Immunohistochemical stainings of endothelial cells in muscle tissue sections: 24 h after injection of saline solution (C); 24 h after injection of B. asper venom (D); and seven days after injection of venom (E). A reduction in the density of capillaries is observed in envenomed muscle after 24 h (asterisk) and seven days. Immunostaining of endothelial cells was performed with a rat anti-mouse CD31 monoclonal antibody, followed by polyclonal biotynilated rabbit anti-rat IgG and Streptavidin Alexa fluor 488. Bar represents 50 µm. Reproduced by [62], copyright 2011, PLOS ONE.