Fig. 7
Fibrosis and small vessel density in quadriceps muscle by day 42 after CKD induction. A–E Illustrating the immunofluorescent (IHC) microscopic finding (200×) for identification of fibrotic area (blue color). F Analytical results of fibrotic area, * versus other groups with different symbols (†, ‡, §, ¶), p < 0.0001. Scale bar in right lower corner represents 50 µm. G–K) Illustrating the microscopic finding (400×) of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) stain for identification of the expression of small vessels (i.e., diameter ≤ 25 μM) (red arrows). L Analytical result of number of small vessels, * versus other groups with different symbols (†, ‡, §, ¶), p < 0.0001. Scale bar in right lower corner represents 20 µm. All statistical analyses were performed by one-way ANOVA, followed by Bonferroni multiple comparison post hoc test (n = 8 for each group). Symbols (*, †, ‡, §, ¶) indicate significance (at 0.05 level). HPF = high-power field; SC = sham-operated control; CKD = chronic kidney disease; CLI = critical limb ischemia; EPCs = endothelial progenitor cells; PrPcOE-EPCs = overexpression of cellular prion protein in EPCs; and siPrnp-EPCs = knockdown of cellular prion protein in EPCs