Figure 8.

Formation of 3D vascular networks in vivo. In the control group (HUVECs only), some discontinuous blood vessels formed by red HUVECs were observed by 1 week after implantation (a). These vessels became continuous and more complex by 2 weeks (d). In experimental group 1 (HUVECs + ASCs), continuous red networks were observed at 1 week. This network was surrounded by green ASCs (b). Two weeks after implantation, many more robust networks were observed, and these were surrounded by an abundance of green ASCs (e). In experimental group 2 (HUVECs + ASCs + 10 ng/ml BMP4), many more continuous red networks were observed than in group 1 and the control group, at 1 week. This network was surrounded by green ASCs (c). Two weeks after implantation, more vascular networks were observed than in group 1 and the control group, and these networks were supported by an abundance of green ASCs (f).