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Figure 1. Blood vessel analysis. (a) Bone marrow stromal cells were transplanted with (BMSC/EC) and without endothelial cells (BMSC). Six weeks following transplantation, the total numbers of blood vessels were counted and normalized per unit area following retrieval of implants. (b) Human-derived vessels were determined by human CD31(+) staining of vessels and plotted as percentages of total functional vessels. (c) 12 weeks following transplantation, total blood vessels were counted in both conditions, and an additional group, control implant condition of poly-lactide-co-glycolide scaffolds that did not contain any cells (PLGA), was also included at this time-point. (d) Human-derived vessels were determined by CD31(+) stained vessels and expressed as percentages of total vessels. Values represent mean ± standard error of the means (unless otherwise noted). *Statistically significant difference (p < 0.05), as compared with BMSC condition; **statistically significant difference as compared with both of the other experimental conditions (n = 6).
