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Fig. 7
Cx43 expression is necessary for survival of non-proliferating dormant breast cancer cells in the brain. (A) 4T-1 cells expressing GFP (green) and stained with the dye PKH26 (red) were injected into the chicken circulation and allowed to form microtumors in the brain for the indicated days. Confocal images were captured as described for Fig.3D. Non-proliferating, dormant tumor cells retain PKH26 and appear yellow with the green GFP background. The chicken brain vasculature is labeled with Rhodamine–lectin (red). Insets show higher magnification of areas delineated by the dashed squares. Representative example of a PKH26-negative microtumor at day 7 post tumor cell injection is shown in the lower inset. (B) Average percentages of surviving PKH26-positive 4T-1 cells (green) or PKH26-positive 4T-1 (red) and 4T-1KNcx43 (black) cells that directly contact blood vessels in the chicken brain for the indicated days. Data indicate means ± s.e.m. Scale bar: 200 μm.