Figure 8:

Neovessels Mimic the Structure and Function of Native Vessels: (A) Low and high magnification images reveal that neovessels (TEVG implanted in a lamb > 1 year) resemble native vessels (IVC) including a thin laminated wall composed of a monolayer of endothelial cells (CD31+) surrounded by concentric layers of smooth muscle cells (calponin+). (B) Pharmacologic stimulation of the ovine neovessels demonstrate that the neovessels (N=3) become vasoactive responding similarly as the IVC (N=3) when exposed to physiological doses of vasoconstrictors such as endothelin-1 (ET-1) and vasodilators such as sodium nitroprusside (SNP) ex vivo.¹⁸

Adapted from Blum KM, Zbinden JC, Ramachandra AB, et al. Tissue engineered vascular grafts transform into autologous neovessels capable of native function and growth. Commun Med (Lond). 2022 Jan 10;2:3. eCollection 2022