Revascularization of NI, PI and BMC-PI.

A–L: Intravital microscopic images of the process of vascularization of an NI (A–D), PI (E–H) and BMC-PI (I–L) (borders marked by dotted line) at day 3 (A, E, I), 6 (B, F, J), 10 (C, G, K) and 14 (D, H, L) after transplantation into the dorsal skinfold chamber. After 14 days, the graft displays a glomerulum-like network of microvessels, which can easily be distinguished from the parallelly arranged capillaries of the host striated muscle tissue. Visualization by blue light epi-illumination with contrast enhancement by 5% FITC-labeled dextran 150,000 i.v. Scale bars: 50 µm. M, N: Revascularized area (M) and functional capillary density (N) of NI (black circles), PI (grey circles) and BMC-PI (white circles) directly after transplantation (d0) as well as at days 3, 6, 10 and 14. Data are given as mean ± SEM; (n = 8 per group, *p<0.05 vs. NI, ^#p<0.05 vs. PI).