Fig. 6
Effect of vitrification on in vivo cell sheet structure after transplantation. a Evaluation of microstructure after cell sheet implantation in the chronic ligation rat model. HE-stained sections for the fresh, vitrification, and sham groups at 4 weeks after transplantation. Sirius Red staining was used to evaluate the percent fibrosis of the chronic ligation rat model in the fresh, vitrification, and sham groups at 4 weeks after transplantation. The fibrotic area was stained red. Scale bar, 3 mm. The sections were immunostained with von Willebrand factor (vWF) antibody for evaluating the minor axis of the cells and the number of microvessels. Scale bar, 100 μm. b Percent fibrosis was calculated based on the fibrotic area in the left ventricle at 4 weeks after transplantation in the 3 treatment groups: the fresh (cell sheets used without further treatment; n = 11), vitrification (n = 11), and sham operation groups (n = 10) (%). Results are expressed as the means ± SD (n = 8 independent experiments); *p < 0.01. c The minor axis of the cells at the MI border area was measured at 4 weeks after transplantation in the 3 treatment groups (μm). Results are expressed as the means ± SD (n = 8 independent experiments); *p < 0.01. d The number of microvessels were measured at the MI border area at 4 weeks after transplantation in the 3 treatment groups (per mm2). Results are expressed as the means ± SD (n = 8 independent experiments); *p < 0.01