Figure 2 | Scientific Reports

Figure 2

From: Formation of three-dimensional tubular endothelial cell networks under defined serum-free cell culture conditions in human collagen hydrogels

Figure 2

hASCs interact with HUVEC network. 3D hydrogel constructs containing GFP positive HUVECs and hASCs after 14 days of cultivation in EGM-2 (a–d) or SFM (e–h). (a,b,e,f) Images of GFP-HUVEC network in low and high magnification after 14 days of cultivation. (c,g) Confocal laser scanning image of α-SMA staining of 3D hydrogel constructs after 14 days of cultivation containing GFP positive HUVECs and hASCs. Cultivation in SFM (g) seems to lead to a more extensive coverage of EC cords with α-SMA positive cells compared to cultivation in EGM-2 (c). (d,h) Virtual stacks of GFP-HUVECs co-cultured with hASCs and stained for α-SMA. Nuclei were counterstained with DAPI. α-SMA positive cells are in physical contact with GFP-HUVECs after cultivation in SFM (h) or EGM-2 (d). Lumen are indicated with asterisks. EGM-2: endothelial growth medium-2, SFM: serum-free medium, Scale bar: (a,e) 500 µm (b,c,f,g) 200 µm, (d,h) 30 µm.

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