Fig. 4.

Anti-Sca-1 antibody modification promotes the endothelialization at 4 weeks post-implantation in vivo. (A) SEM and (B) en face immunostaining images showed the endothelium distribution and morphology at different (anastomotic, quarter, and midportion) sites of the lumen. The direction of blood flow is indicated by the black arrow above each panel. Images are representative of n = 6 independent experiments. Scale bars for SEM images, 20 μm or 10 μm (magnified images). Scale bars for en face immunostaining images, 50 μm or 20 μm (magnified images). (C) Immunofluorescence staining with anti-CD31 antibody was performed to assess the endothelialization on longitudinal sections of the implanted grafts, and (D) the corresponding endothelium coverage rate was calculated. Nuclei were counterstained with DAPI. Scale bar, 100 μm. Data were expressed as mean ± s.e.m. for each group: **p < 0.01. Images and data are representative of n = 6 independent experiments.