Fig. 3.

Anti-Sca-1 antibody modification improves vascular regeneration in vivo. (A) Graft implantation in rat abdominal aorta replacement models. (B) Representative Doppler ultrasound image of the implanted PCL-Sca-1 Ab vascular graft. (C) Representative stereoscopic images of vascular grafts at 4 weeks post-implantation. Scale bars, 2 mm or 1 mm (inner panel). (D) Tissue regeneration within vascular grafts was analysed by H&E staining. The neo-tissue was bordered by dashed lines. Images are representative of n = 6 independent experiments. Scale bars, 1 mm or 100 μm (magnified images). (E) The average thickness of neo-tissue and the luminal diameter of implanted grafts were calculated based on the cross-sections with H&E staining. Data were expressed as mean ± s.e.m. for each group: *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. (F) ECM reconstruction of implanted grafts was identified by Safranin O, Masson's Trichrome and Verhoeff-Van Gieson (VVG) staining to investigate the deposition of glycosaminoglycan, collagen and elastic fibers, respectively. Scale bar, 100 μm. Images are representative of n = 6 independent experiments.