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Figure 3 Incorporation of mobilized endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). Representative cross sections of ischemic hind limbs of female animals treated with vehicle (A) or nicotine (B), respectively. All endothelial cells stain for CD31 (fluorescein-isothiocyanate-labeled; green). Those endothelial cells that are derived from the male transgenic animal also express ß-galactosidase (red fluorescent phycoerythrin [PE]-labeled secondary antibody) resulting in a double stain that is yellow. Histogram showing mean values for capillary density and percentage of EPC-containing vessels (from an analysis of 10 randomly selected high-power fields in each group) (C). Nicotine administration increased capillary density as well as the number of vessels containing endothelial cells that had been derived from EPC. For each group, n = 5. Open bars = capillary density (CD31⁺); solid bars = EPC-containing vessels. *p < 0.01 versus phosphate-buffered saline (PBS).