Proliferation of c-kit+ cells in the lungs of AMD3100-treated SU5416/chronic hypoxia (SuHx) animals.
(A) Representative optical sections (confocal microscopy) demonstrate c-kit+ von Willebrand Factor+ (vWF+) proliferating cell nuclear antigen+ (PCNA+) cells (upper row) or c-kit+ α-smooth muscle actin+ (α-SMA+) PCNA+ cells (lower row) in pulmonary arteries of SuHx + vehicle and SuHx + AMD3100 treated animals. The inserts show a triple positive cell (arrow) in more detail. Please note that the bright white stained dots indicate cells with very strong PCNA staining. Nuclear counterstaining: 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). Magnification: 630×. Scale bar: 20 µm. (B-C) Quantification of the number of c-kit+, c-kit+ vWF+ and c-kit+ α-SMA+, as well as PCNA+, c-kit+ PCNA+, c-kit+ vWF+ PCNA+ and c-kit+ α-SMA+ PCNA+ cells in and around the pulmonary arteries of SuHx + vehicle and SuHx + AMD3100 animals. n = 3 animals per group. * P<0.05 and ** P<0.01.