Fig. 4

Peritubular capillary density (PTCR) and endothelial alpha-Tubulin (aT) expression. PTCR was evaluated by measuring CD31 immunofluorescence per cortical area. a and b show PTCR dynamics under the different experimental conditions with (a) for the 35 and B for the 45 min groups. In comparison to the control group, ischemia significantly reduced PTCR in a prolonged manner (week 1 to 6). The only exception was the 35 min group at week 1. Contrasting to earlier results published recently [43] late EPC therapy did not improve capillary densities in any of the groups. c – e show representative images of CD31 analysis in controls as compared to two experimental groups. f and g show endothelial aT levels with versus without lEPC therapy with (f) for the 35 and (g) for the 45 min groups. As mentioned in the text, endothelial aT decreased under all experimental conditions with one exception: 35 min, week 1. Cell therapy further aggravated aT reduction with two exceptions: 45 min, weeks 4 and 6. h – q give detailed impressions of endothelial aT dynamics. h – l show single stained sections for aT (green – h), CD31 (red – i), nuclei (blue – j), and RGB merge (all three colors – k) in the control group. l magnifies the white area in (k) fourfold. m – q display respective single-stained sections from the 35 min 6 weeks + lEPC group (magnifications × 40 in c – e and in h – k/m - p; ×160 in l and q; yellow in k, l, p, and q: CD31/aT overlap; Data as mean ± SEM, ✻: p < 0.05)