AdV-ZFP-VEGF results in increased vessel counts and angiogenesis.

<p>(A) Left panel: Illustration of the area of spinal cord areas used for RECA-1 counting (2 grey matter areas, 2 white matter areas). (B) Representative sections taken 2 mm rostral to the epicenter from a AdV-ZFP-VEGF treated and AdV-eGFP control animal respectively immunostained with RECA-1 at 10 days after SCI; scale 100 µm. An increased number of vessels were observed in the AdV-ZFP-VEGF treated group. (C) Bar graph illustrating the RECA-1 positive cell counts 10 days after SCI. AdV-ZFP-VEGF administration resulted in a significant increase in vascular counts (2 mm and 4 mm away from the epicenter) as compared with the control group. (D) Representative confocal image from an ADV-ZFP-VEGF treated animal at 5 days post-injury. Image was taken at 2 mm rostral from the epicenter, and shows double-labeled cells. Cells were stained for endothelial cells (RECA-1, green) and proliferation (Ki67, red). Scale bar = 50 µm (30 µm for magnified panel). (E) Angiogenesis was assessed by quantifying Ki67/RECA-1 co-labeled vessels. Data is presented at the percentage of RECA-1+ vessels that were also Ki67+, with an overall average increase of 10% vascular proliferation observed in the animals receiving AdV-ZFP-VEGF administration. All data are presented as mean ± SEM, and was analyzed by Two-way ANOVA (Holm-Sidak post-hoc). Angiogenesis data were analyzed by performing an arcsine transformation of the values, prior to Two-way ANOVA and post-hoc testing. *p<0.01, **p<0.001. n = 4/sham and injured control groups, n = 5/AdV-eGFP and AdV-ZFP-VEGF groups.