Figure 2

MSC improved renal oxygenation and microvascular architecture. A) Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) MRI images of the LV (left), showing hypoxic myocardium (yellow-red) in RVH, and quantification of R2* index (right). *P <0.05 versus normal, †P <0.05 versus RVH + PTRA + MSC. B) Representative myocardial micro-CT images (top) and quantification of spatial density of small, medium and large microvessels in the subepicardium and subendocardium (bottom). C) Myocardium sections stained with α-smooth muscle actin (left) and quantification of vessel media-to-lumen ratio (right). *P <0.05 versus normal, †P <0.05 versus RVH + PTRA + MSC. CT, computed tomography; LV, left ventrical; MSC, mesenchymal stem cells; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; PTRA, percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty; RVH, renovascular hypertension.