Fig. 4

Suppression of FSAP by HMW-HA treatment enhances revascularization and newly formed microvessels in the penumbral regions of mouse brains after cerebral ischemia. a–d Cerebral vasculature was detected and quantified by CD31 (green) immunostaining in the penumbral regions at 3 and 28 days after MCAO. a Representative CD31 immunostaining images, b quantitative analysis of junction number, c vessel area, and d vascular length. Data is expressed as mean ± SD; n = 5–7 for each group. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 versus Sham group, #p < 0.05, ##p < 0.01, ###p < 0.001 versus vehicle group by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison tests. e, f CD31 (red) and Ki67 (green) double-immunostaining was used to determine the newly formed microvessels in the penumbral regions of the brains at 3 days after MCAO. e Representative images, and f quantification of the Ki67+/CD31+ signals. Scale bar, 50 μm. Data is expressed as mean ± SD; n = 5–7 for each group; #p < 0.05 versus vehicle group by Student’s T-test. g–k Pro-angiogenic factors expression was detected by Western blot. g Representative western blot images and h–k quantitative analysis. Data is expressed as mean ± SD; n = 9 for each group. n.s. not significant, *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001 versus Sham group, n.s. not significant, #p < 0.05, ##p < 0.01 versus vehicle group by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison tests