Figure 8

Mesometrial arteries obtained in days 20 and 40 of pregnancy showed in sequential sections an intact smooth muscle layer characterized by muscle actin (MA), and no cytokeratin positive cells. In day 60, intramural trophoblasts, characterized by cytokeratin (CK), expressed VEGF, Flt-1, KDR, B2R and eNOS, as did the swollen endothelial cells, identified by von Willebrand Factor (vWF). The remaining vascular smooth muscle, positive for muscle actin (MA), was disrupted. Bar = 100 μm.