Fig 1.
Characterisation of electrospun PCL graft.
A: Macroscopic image of PCL graft. B: Scanning electron microscopy images of a transverse cross section. Scale bar = 200 μm C: Scanning electron microscopy images of electrospun fibres on the luminal side. Scale bar = 10 μm. D: Histogram of fibre diameter distribution.
Fig 2.
Mouse carotid grafting procedure with corresponding schematic diagram (adapted from [7]).
A: Carotid artery was isolated. B: Double ligation at the mid-point. C: Cuffs were placed on each end of the ligation. D, E: Clamps were applied and artery segment was everted over the cuff and fixed in place with suture. F: Graft was secured to each ends of the cuffs. G: Clamps were removed and blood flow confirmed.
Fig 3.
A: Distribution of NH throughout the graft. Neointimal area represented as a percentage of total luminal area as defined by the inner graft wall. Data expressed as mean ± SEM and analysed using two-way ANOVA, n = 7 animals/timepoint. B: Representative images of H&E staining of cross sections. Black dotted lines indicate the graft wall. Scale bar = 100 μm.
Fig 4.
Smooth muscle α-actin content in the neointima.
A: Distribution of SM α-actin area throughout the graft. SM α-actin area represented as a percentage of the neointimal area. Data expressed as mean ± SEM and the average SM α-actin content along the length of the graft was analysed using one-way ANOVA, n = 7 animals/timepoint. B: Representative images of cross sections with SM α-actin stained in red, nucleus in blue. Black dotted lines indicate the graft wall. Scale bar = 100 μm.
Fig 5.
Total collagen content in neointima.
A: Distribution of total collagen throughout the graft area represented as a percentage of the neointimal area. Data expressed as mean ± SEM and the average collagen content along the length of the graft was analysed using one-way ANOVA, n = 7 animals/timepoint. B: Representative images of Carstair histological stain of cross sections, collagen in blue, muscle in red. Black dotted lines indicate the graft wall. Scale bar = 100 μm.
Fig 6.
A: Scanning electron microscopy images of the luminal side of the graft. Scale bar = 500 μm. Inset scale bar = 50 μm. B: Quantification of CD31 coverage represented as a percentage of total luminal circumference. Data expressed as mean ± SEM and the mid section of the grafts were analysed using one-way ANOVA, n = 7 animals/timepoint. C: Representative images of cross sections with CD31 staining in red, nucleus in blue. White dotted lines indicate the graft wall. Scale bar = 100 μm.
Fig 7.
A: Schematic of experimental design. Bone marrow mono-nuclear cells are isolated from FVB-L2G mice and injected into FVB-N mice that received that carotid grafting. B: Representative IVIS images of carotid grafted mice with BM-MNC injection. Warm colours denote higher signal and cold colours denote lower signal. C: Representative images of cross sections with eGFP staining in green and nucleus in blue. Scale bar = 100 μm. D: Quantification of eGFP positive cells cells. Data expressed as mean ± SEM and analysed using one-way ANOVA, n = 3 animals/timepoint.