Fibrin and Collagen Differentially but Synergistically Regulate Sprout Angiogenesis of Human Dermal Microvascular Endothelial Cells in 3-Dimensional Matrix
Figure 4
Presence of multiple cells in capillary tube-like structure by nuclei staining and presence of lumen demonstrated by confocal microscopic analysis. (a) HDMEC formed elongated and branched capillary sprouts in fibrin gel after 5 days in presence of VEGF (30 ng/mL) and bFGF (25 ng/mL). (b) The culture in (a) was fixed and stained with propidium iodide (PI) to reveal nuclei. (c) Phase-contrast photomicrograph of typical capillary tube-like structure formed by HDMEC in fibrin with VEGF (30 ng/mL) and bFGF (25 ng/mL). (d) Series of contiguous 1 micron thick tangential cross sections of the capillary tube-like structure, obtained by reflective confocal microscopy with computerized imaging, initially revealed the top of the tube (0–3 microns) and then the presence of a central lumen (8–19 microns) between two walls. (a) and (b) 100x and (c) and (d) 400x magnification.
