An Enriched Environment Enhances Angiogenesis Surrounding the Cingulum in Ischaemic Stroke Rats

Figure 6

VEGF-positive cells were colocalised with HIF-1α surrounding the bilateral cingulate. Both VEGF and HIF-1α were immunostained. The HIF-1α-positive cells surrounding the bilateral cingulate were measured at 14 days after MCAO/r. (a, d) Representative images of VEGF-positive cells surrounding the contralateral cingulate in MCAO/r rats in the standard cage (a) and enriched environment groups (d). (b, e) Representative images of HIF-1α-positive cells surrounding the contralateral cingulate in MCAO/r rats in the standard cage (b) and enriched environment groups (e). (c, f) Almost all VEGF-positive cells surrounding the contralateral cingulate in MCAO/r rats in the standard cage (c) and enriched environment groups (f) were colabelled with HIF-1α. (h, k) Representative images of VEGF-positive cells surrounding the ipsilateral cingulate in MCAO/r rats in the standard cage (h) and enriched environment groups (k). (i, l) Representative images of HIF-1α-positive cells surrounding the ipsilateral cingulate in MCAO/r rats in the standard cage (i) and enriched environment groups (l). (j, m) Almost all VEGF-positive cells surrounding the ipsilateral cingulate in MCAO/r rats in the standard cage (j) and enriched environment groups (m) were colabelled with HIF-1α. (g, n) The number of HIF-1α cells surrounding the contralateral (g) and ipsilateral (n) cingulate in MCAO/r rats in the SC and EE groups was quantified and analysed. rats per group, .