The Angiogenic Potential of DPSCs and SCAPs in an In Vivo Model of Dental Pulp Regeneration

Figure 10

Tissue and blood vessel content of 3D constructs after eight weeks of transplantation. (a, e, i) Negative control condition (Puramatrix). (b, f, j) DPSCs. (c, g, k) SCAPs. (d, h, l) DPSCs + SCAPs. (a–h) All constructs contained differentially organized, vascularized connective tissue. (j–o) Strongly organized, concentric layers of collagen or mineralized tissue (arrows) were found in constructs containing stem cells. (p) Nerves were observed in the tissue surrounding the constructs. Scale bar = 500 μm (a–d); 100 μm (i); 50 μm (e–h, j–l); and 20 μm (m–p). Representative pictures were taken of each experimental condition. (q) Percentage of newly formed tissue within 3D constructs. Negative control constructs seemed to contain less tissue in comparison to the stem cell constructs. (r) Number of blood vessels with the 3D constructs. DPSC constructs showed a trend towards a higher amount of blood vessels in comparison to the negative control constructs. (s) Number of blood vessels per mm² of newly formed tissue. The vascularization rate of the negative control constructs appeared higher in comparison to that of the stem cell constructs. Analysis after eight weeks was conducted on (DPSCs); (SCAPs); (DPSCs + SCAPs); and (negative control condition), with each sample containing more than 10% newly formed tissue. value < 0.05.

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