Fig. 2

Capillary density and VEGF expression in the peritoneum. Isolectin-B4 positive blood vessels stained in bright red. Nuclei counterstained with DAPI appear in blue (× 400). Almost no vessels were identified in the Control (a) and CKD (b) groups. Conversely, increased number of capillary vessels indicating neoangiogenesis (white arrows) in the submesothelial zone was observed in the PF (c) and CKD/PF (d) groups. Tamoxifen (e) and rBMP7 (f) treatments were effective in reducing the neoangiogenesis. (g) Quantitative analysis of the capillary density of all groups at day 30. (h) VEGF mRNA levels expression in PM by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) were significantly higher in the PF and PF/CKD groups compared with the Control and CKD groups. Both treatments, with TAM or BMP7, significantly reduced VEGF. Overall ANOVA p < 0.0001. Post-test p-values: *p < 0.01 vs Control; ^#p < 0.01 vs CKD, ^†p < 0.01 vs PF, ^§p < 0.01 vs PF/CKD