Multiple Intravenous Injections of Valproic Acid-Induced Mesenchymal Stem Cell from Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Improved Cardiac Function in an Acute Myocardial Infarction Rat Model

Figure 8

hiPSC-MSC administration stimulated angiogenesis in the scar area. (a) Detection of blood vessel by anti-α-SMA immunohistochemistry staining. A α-SMA⁺ blood vessels in a section of the normal rat (no scar area). B α-SMA⁺ blood vessels in a section of the sham operated rat (no scar area). C α-SMA⁺ blood vessels in a section of the four-injection-treated rat (in scar area). D α-SMA⁺ blood vessels in a section of the two-injection-treated rat (in scar area). E α-SMA⁺ blood vessels in a section the of PBS-injection-treated rat (in scar area). F Negative staining control, 200×. (b) The number/hpf of α-SMA⁺ blood vessels in the scar area of the cell-treated groups was increased significantly compared with that of the PBS-injection group (PBS-injection group v. two-injection group, ; PBS-injection group v. four-injection group, ). Significant difference could be found when comparing the four-injection group with the two-injection group, .

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