Figure 8

BCAAem recruits endothelial progenitors to healthy and dystrophic TA muscles. Cryosections of TA (a) muscle tissues of BCAAem-treated and untreated C57BL6/J-EGFP and mdx-EGFP mice were analysed by immunofluorescence staining for GFP, CD31 and laminin (Lam) (n = 5 for each experimental group). Nuclei were stained with DAPI. EGFP+ cells were detected in the interstitial spaces (arrowheads in a) and inside small CD31+ vessels (boxes in a). Magnification (X 1,000) of boxes indicate vessels expressing GFP (green), laminin (red), CD31 (purple). Merged images reveal vessel areas of costaining, as evidenced by the grey staining pattern. Analysis of the TA muscles of BCAAem-treated mdx-EGFP mice demonstrates an increase in the number of EGFP+ CD31+ and CD31+ vessels and α-SMA+ cells per section. Scale bar, 45 µm. The percentage of EGFP+ cells per section (b) and the number of EGFP+ CD31+ cells per section (c) are shown. The number of CD31+ vessels per fibre (d) and α-SMA+ cells per section (e) is shown. All data are presented as the mean ± s.e.m. Statistical error analysis was performed by one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 and ****p < 0.0001 indicate comparisons that reflect significant differences relative to the untreated group.