Effect of BaP1 and CsH1 on size and density of gaps between adjacent smooth muscle and pericytes on mouse cremaster muscle vasculature.

<p>Isolated cremaster muscles were incubated with either 30 μg of BaP1 or 15 μg of CsH1 (model without blood flow). In another experiment, anesthetized mice were injected by intrascrotal route with either 60 μg of BaP1 or 30 μg of CsH1 (model with blood flow). Controls were incubated or injected with PBS. After 15 min of exposition to toxin in each model, whole cremaster muscles were fixed and immunostained for observation by confocal microscopy and analysis of the gaps between adjacent smooth muscle and pericytes. Results are expressed as the mean ± SEM of the (A, B) gap size and (C, D) gap density (number of gaps per vessel area) of at least five images of arterioles and PCV per cremaster (n = 4). (E) Representative three-dimensional images of each vessel type immunostained for actin α smooth muscle are shown for BaP1 30 μg and control in the model without blood flow. Notice the increase in the gap size (arrows) in arterioles and PCV of treated tissues as compared to control. Scale bar represents 30 μm. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.001 as compared to control. C: control; PCV: post-capillary venules.