VEGF does not inhibit thymocyte development in FTOC. (A) Day-14.5 fetal thymic lobes were cultured ± VEGF (5-100 ng/mL). On day 5, lobes were isolated, a single-cell suspension prepared, and thymocytes were counted and analyzed for CD4 and CD8 expression. Representative data from 5 independent experiments are shown. rmIL-7 (50 ng/mL) and recombinant murine epidermal growth factor (rmEGF) (50 ng/mL) were used as positive controls. (B) Percentage CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cells with IL-7 and EGF treatment. (C) Mean number of cells per thymic lobe ± IL-7 and EGF (n = 3, ± SE). *Denotes statistical significance.