Fig. 7

Ex-ovo CAM assay. Alterations of the vascular network were analyzed in 8-day chicken embryo CAM, 72 h after grafting Geltrex™ droplets containing MPCs, P2-MSCs, and HUVECs. MPC and HUVEC grafts stimulated the formation of a more complex vessel network as revealed by numerous afferent capillaries, while P2-MSCs did not show any significant effect with respect to “no cell” negative controls. Two representative samples for each cell type are displayed (a). White crosses, implant graft sites. Quantification of the capillary network surrounding the on-plants confirmed the increased complexity in the tests applying MPCs (green) or HUVECs (pale blue), in terms of total network length, branching points, number of segments, and mean segment length, with respect to “no cell” control (black) or MSCs (red) (b). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. HUVEC human umbilical vein endothelial cell, MPC mesangiogenic progenitor cell, MSC mesenchymal stromal cell (Color figure online)