Fig. 2

Comparison of tissue survivability between the two in vitro models in growth medium at day 5, 15 and 30 (a-i). Cells are confined at the interface between muscle and scaffold at day 5 in the wrapping model (a), with a shock silence of tissue-survival related genes (g). Muscle tissue undergo necrosis over time (b) with dying of cells (c, i). In pouch models, initial cell releasing occurs at day 5 (d), leading to successive cell migration and connective tissue formation (e). Vessel structures (f, higher power view) are still present by day 30 in vitro culturing with consistent tissue survival and growth gene expression pattern. Gene expression assays show better tissue survival in the pouch model, especially at day 30 (g-i). Error bars are Mean ± SEM. Ns, non-statistically significant; *, P < 0.05; ***, P < 0.001. H&E staining. M = Skeletal muscle, S = scaffold, CT = connective tissue. Bar: Lower power, 200 μm; higher power, 20 μm