Figure 5
Restoration of blood flow in ischemic muscles in diabetic (db/db) mice subjected to the hind limb ischemia. Ischemic gastrocnemius was injected either with empty media (control, EBM-2 with 0.5% FBS), conditioned media (media, EBM-2 with 0.5% FBS harvested from cultured wild type PACs ), or PACs (cells, 2.5 x 105 in control medium) 24 h after surgery (injections into 3 sites, total volume of 50 μL). A: Blood flow expressed as a ratio between ischemic and control leg. Numerical data and representative pictures. Laser-Doppler flowmetry. B: Percentage of regenerating fibers in gastrocnemius muscle, 28 days after surgery. Hematoxylin-eosin staining. C: Number of capillaries in gastrocnemius muscle, 28 days after surgery. Immunohistochemical staining for CD31. D: Number of arterioles in gastrocnemius muscle, 28 days after surgery. Immunohistochemical staining for αSMA. Numerical data and representative pictures. N = 4-6, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 versus control.