Figure 1

Exposure to protons and Fe ions results in distinct morphologies of mature 3-Dimensional vessel models. 24 hours after either HUVEC or HBMEC were seeded into matrices they were exposed to 1Gy of each type of particle radiation and then cultured for a further 5 days until vessel structures had formed. Fixed cultures were stained for all protein material (DTAF – green) and nuclei (Propidium Iodide – red and imaging as yellow). Images are 10 slices 2 μm apart projected onto a single plane. A. Control HUVEC culture shows vessels with lumens that have formed a connecting network. B. HUVEC cultures exposed to 1 Gy Fe ions formed a network but vessels are often thinner without lumens (arrow). C. HUVEC cultures exposed to 1 Gy protons fail to form a network and vessels terminate in a dead end (arrow) Bar = 100 μm. D-F. HBMEC at a higher magnification. D. Control cultures form a network. E. cultures exposed to 1 Gy Fe ions formed a network but vessels are often thinner without lumens (arrow). F. Cultures exposed to 1 Gy protons fail to form a network and vessels terminate in a dead end (arrow). G. Quantitation based on length of vessel per cell shows a similar overall effect. Bar = 50 μm.