FIG. 1.

In vivo and In vitro SVF microvasculature. SVF cells from GFP⁺ rat were suspended in a three-dimensional collagen-I matrix and implanted subcutaneously for 4 weeks. SVF (green fluorescence) spontaneously self-assembled a hierarchical, mature, and patent vasculature. This vasculature anastomoses with the host circulation (GFP⁻ Dextran-TRITC⁺) and demonstrates evidence of perfusion (GFP⁺ Dextran-TRITC⁺). The ability of the SVF cells to self-organize into a functional vasculature has therapeutic implications in a multitude of tissue engineering applications (Image credit: Dr. James Hoying). When SVF cells are plated in vitro, the SVF-derived endothelial cells (Ulex Europaeus Agglutinin-I-fluorescein⁺) spontaneously self-assemble an endothelial network within the overlying stromal cells. Scale bar = 10×, 200μm. SVF EC, stromal vascular fraction endothelial cells. Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/teb