Figure 5
Growth and characteristic appearance of GBC-SD xenografts in vivo . (A) The size, volume and inhibition of GBC-SD xenografts of each group. *P < 0.001, vs. control group; # P < 0.01, vs. TIMP-2 group. (B) Histomorphologic appearance of the xenografts of each group. Using H & E staining (b 1 ) and CD31-PAS double stainings (b 2 ) (original magnification, ×200), sections of the xenografts in control group showed tumor cell-lined channels containing red blood cells (orange arrowhead) without any evidence of tumor necrosis. PAS-positive substances line the channel-like structures; tumor cells form vessel-like structure with single red blood cell inside (yellow arrowhead). TEM (b 3 ; original magnification, ×8000) clearly visualized several red blood cells in the centre of tumor nests in the xenografts in control group (red arrowhead). However, similar phenomenon failed to occur in the xenografts in TIMP-2 group or NCTD group, with destroyed cellular organelles, cell necrosis (blue arrowhead), nuclear pyknosis, fragmentation and apoptotic bodies (brown arrowhead).