Figure 4

α-SMA is not expressed at the protein level following gingivectomy in vivo. (A) Representative images of immunoreactivity for α-SMA of gingiva at 1, 3, 7, and 14 days post-wounding and unwounded gingiva (day 0). Histological sections from rats after 1, 3, 7, and 14 days post-wounding and unwound gingiva were incubated with a primary antibody against α-SMA. The primary antibody was detected by using peroxidase-conjugate secondary antibody and DAB. All sections were counterstained with haematoxylin. Panels (a–e) are higher magnifications of the corresponding regions indicated by rectangular boxes. Black arrowheads denote α-SMA-positive blood vessels. Few myofibroblasts were evident at day 7 indicated by hollow arrowhead. (B) Representative images of immunoreactivity for FSP-1 of gingiva following gingivectomy. Anti-FSP-1 was detected by using peroxidase-conjugate secondary antibody and DAB, and the sections were counterstained with haematoxylin. FSP-1-positive cells in the regenerated connective tissue are denoted by black arrows. Scale bar, 50 μm.