Fig. 4

RA^{1 day SP + I/R} EDCs show an increased number of c-Kit⁺ GATA⁺ Nkx2.5⁺ CPCs. (A) Schematic workflow of the protocol for RA^{1 day I/R} and RA^{1 day SP + I/R} EDCs using ex vivo explant outgrowth culture assay as described in the Materials and Methods. (B) Confocal fluorescence images of NK₁R-expressing c-Kit⁺ CPCs in each group. c-Kit (green), GATA4 (red), Nkx2.5 (gray), CD45 (gray), Isl-1 (red), and Hoechst33342 nuclei (blue) are visualized. Scale bars, 20 μm. (C) Graph depicting the percentages of c-Kit⁺ CPCs in RA^{1 day I/R} and RA^{1 day SP + I/R} EDCs. **P < 0.01 versus corresponding control using Student’s t-test. (D) Diagram indicating the percentages of c-Kit⁺Nkx2.5⁺GATA4⁺(), c-Kit⁺Nkx2.5⁻GATA4⁺(), c-Kit⁺Nkx2.5⁺GATA4⁻(), c-Kit⁻Nkx2.5⁻GATA4⁺(), c-Kit⁻Nkx2.5⁺GATA4⁻(), c-Kit⁻Nkx2.5⁻GATA4⁻() in RA^{1 day I/R} and RA^{1 day SP + I/R} EDCs.