Fig. 8.

Sca-1⁺ SPCs contribute to the endothelialization and smooth muscle regeneration of vascular grafts in a bone marrow transplantation (BMT) mouse model. (A) Schematic illustration showing that a BMT model was constructed by transplanting GFP⁺ bone marrow cells into Sca1 2A CreER; Rosa-RFP lineage tracing mouse. (B) Representative stereoscopic image of vascular graft after implantation. (C) Representative Doppler ultrasound image of the implanted graft. (D) The luminal surface of the explanted graft was observed by stereomicroscopy. Scale bar, 1 mm. (E) Bright-field and fluorescence images of vascular grafts after explantation. Scale bar, 2 mm. H&E (F) and immunofluorescence (G) staining of Sca-1 in vascular grafts at 4 weeks post-implantation in the BMT mice. Scale bars, 500 μm or 50 μm (magnified images). (H) Quantitative analyses of the Sca-1⁺ SPCs and total cell number in the graft wall. Data were expressed as mean ± s.e.m. for each group. (I) Co-immunofluorescence staining of GFP/Sca-1 and RFP/Sca-1 in vascular grafts at 4 weeks post-implantation. Scale bars, 200 μm or 50 μm (magnified images). (J) Quantitative analysis of the ratio of Sca-1⁺ SPCs derived from specific sources in total Sca-1⁺ SPCs. Data were expressed as mean ± s.e.m. for each group: ***p < 0.001. (K) Co-immunofluorescence staining of Sca-1/CD31 and Sca-1/α-SMA in vascular grafts at 4 weeks post-implantation. Scale bars, 200 μm or 50 μm (magnified images). (L) Quantification of the ratio of CD31⁺ cells in Sca-1⁺ SPCs, and the ratio of α-SMA⁺ cells in Sca-1⁺ SPCs in the vascular graft. Data were expressed as mean ± s.e.m. for each group. Images and data are representative of n = 6 independent experiments.