Fig. 5

Endothelial rescue after AFS cell injection in vivo. a Experimental plan. Mouse model of acute ischemia: 48 hours after bilateral femoral vein excision, PBS or AFS cells from the second and third trimesters were injected. Fifteen days later, functional analysis and sacrifice have been performed. b In comparison of mice injected with PBS (control) and of those treated with cells, the ischemic ratio was significantly higher in the latter group (n = 4 for each condition). ROI used to calculate the ischemic ratio was equal in size for right and left limbs. c CD31 staining of cells in both control and treated animals (left) evidenced a positive trend in favour of the cell-treated mice but with no statistical differences (right) (n = 5 for each condition). d Experimental plan. Mouse model of carotid injury: 3 hours after damage, PBS or AFS cells cultured in hypoxia were injected. e Three days later, after Evans blue injection, it is possible to appreciate the quick recovery of the damaged endothelium after AFS cell injection. In particular, AFS cells of the third trimester proved to be significantly more effective than the cells from the second trimester (n = 3 for each condition). *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001. AFS amniotic fluid stem, DAPI 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, PBS phosphate-buffered saline, PhC phase contrast