Collagen External Scaffolds Mitigate Intimal Hyperplasia and Improve Remodeling of Vein Grafts in a Rabbit Arteriovenous Graft Model

Figure 3

CES reduces the thickening of intimal and improves the remodeling of the vein graft. (a–c) Sections stained by HE of the normal vein (a), vein grafts from the graft (b), and CES (c) groups. (d–f) Collagen deposition (blue) was seen in vein grafts (e) and was largely decreased by the CES (f) in the sections stained by Masson. (g–i) Sections stained by HE of the CES showed fusion of the CES and adventitia of the vein graft (g), formation of vasa vasorum (h), degradation of the CES, and infiltration of VSMCs in CES (i). I: intima; M: media. The arrows, respectively, indicate the formation of vasa vasorum in the space between CES and vein graft (h) and the infiltration of VSMCs (i).

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