Fig. 3

Representative pictures of myocardium (a, shown by #) in the scar area of SMC-Tx, DFB-Tx and untreated. b; % myocardium in the risk area was significantly higher in SMC-Tx. c; Representative pictures of α-SMA⁺ arterioles in border-zone between myocardium and scar area. Upper panels are less magnified pictures of border-zone, and lower panels are higher magnified pictures of border-zone. Scale bar = 100 μm. D; α-SMA⁺ arterioles in border-zone were significantly increased in SMC-Tx. *p < 0.05 vs. SMC-Tx; †p < 0.05 vs. other groups. SMC-Tx, smooth muscle cell sheet transplantation group; DFB-Tx, dermal fibroblast sheet transplantation group; Untreated, untreated group. Each groups n = 5