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Fig. 7
Poly I:C injection in medaka promotes neovascularization in a macrophage-dependent manner following cardiac injury.
Adult fli::GFP;gata1::GFP medaka were injected with PBS (A–E) or poly I:C (F–J) immediately after injury, or with clodronate liposomes at 1 day before injury and poly I:C immediately after injury (K). Hearts were collected at 2 (A and F), 4 (B and G), 7 (C, H, and K), and 14 (D and I) dpci, as well as 1 mpci (E and J), and imaged with a stereo (A–K) or confocal (A'-K', boxed areas in A-K) microscope for detailed examination. Asterisks mark the injured area, and arrowheads point to new vessel-like structures. Initiation of vessel formation was observed at earlier time points (4 and 7 dpci) in poly I:C-exposed hearts compared to control hearts, and these vessels were maintained at least until 1 mpci (n > 3). In contrast, in control hearts, new vessels were observed only at 14 dpci, and largely disappeared by 1 mpci. In addition, vessel formation promoted by poly I:C injections was blocked by CL pre-injections.