Fig. 4

HucMSCs treatment contributed to the angiogenesis, attenuated myocardial fibrosis and hypertrophy in hearts after MI. A Representative immunofluorescence images of hearts stained with CD31 between MI-N.S and MI-HucMSC groups on both day 7 and 28. Green, CD31; Blue, DAPI. Scale bar = 100 µm. B Statistical results of the CD31 density (per field) of MI-N.S and MI-HucMSC groups both on day 7 and 28. C The mRNA expression of VEGF-α in infarcted hearts of two groups on day 7. D Representative Masson’s Trichrome-stained histological sections of hearts between MI-N.S and MI-HucMSC groups. Scale bar = 1000 µm. E The fibrosis area of heart tissues was measured using ImageJ software. F The mRNA levels of COL I, COL II, MMP-2 and TIMP2 in infarcted hearts of two groups. G Representative immunofluorescence images of hearts stained with WGA between MI-N.S and MI-HucMSC groups. Green, WGA; Blue, DAPI. Scale bar = 50 µm. H The cross-sectional areas of heart sections were estimated using ImageJ software. I The mRNA levels of ANP, BNP, MYH7 and MYH6 in infarcted hearts of two groups. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 versus MI-N.S group. VEGF vascular endothelial growth factor; COL collage; MMP matrix metalloproteinase; TIMP tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase; WGA wheat germ agglutinin. ANP atrial natriuretic peptide; BNP brain natriuretic peptide, MYH myosin heavy chain