Figure 6: Computerized-assisted quantifications of the lymphatic vasculature in the primary tumors.
From: Modeling pre-metastatic lymphvascular niche in the mouse ear sponge assay
Sponges devoid of tumor cells (controls) and sponges populated with 1.5 × 105 or 2 × 105 B16F10Luc+ tumor cells were implanted in the mouse ears for 2 (a–e) or 4 (f–j) weeks. Different parameters were measured on peritumoral and intratumoral areas. (a,f) The lymphatic vessel density (LVD). (b,g) The number of vessel sections per mm2 of specific tissue area. (c,h) The number of vessel sections smaller than a specific size (<2 × 10−2 mm2 or <1 × 10−2 mm2 for peritumoral or intratumoral, respectively). (d,i) The number of vessel sections larger than a specific size (>2 × 10−2 mm2 or >1 × 10−2 mm2 for peritumoral or intratumoral, respectively). (e,j) The normalized number of vessel sections at a distance of 0.45 mm or 0.3 mm from the ear border after 2 weeks or 4 weeks of sponge insertion. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM, and Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney significance test was used to compare the mean parameter values, *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001, n = 12 sponges per group (6 mice/group).
