Figure 5.
PDGF-D repairs the disorganized SMC coating of VEGF-E–induced blood vessels. Whole-mount staining for SMA of AAV-infected ears. Note that the AAV-VEGF-E–infected ears show enlarged vessels (arrowheads) a loose, irregular coating by (A, G, arrows) SMCs in comparison with (B) AAV-HSA. A combination of AAV-VEGF-E with AAV-PDGF-D (D, H) or AAV-PDGF-B (E, I) reestablishes the normal tight structure typical of the SMC layer of arteries. The SMC layer in (C) AAV-PDGF-D– or (F) AAV-PDGF-B–injected tissue shows no apparent changes from the control (original magnification: × 100 for A-F, and × 400 for G, I). Bars represent 150 μm (A-F) and 30 μm (G-I).