VEGF-induced vascularization is impaired in CD146^EC-KO mice. (A) Immunofluorescence showing the vascularization induced by VEGF in the Matrigel explanted in wild-type (WT) and CD146^EC-KO mice. Staining of blood vessels was performed with a CD31 Ab (red); green indicates CD146 (rat anti-CD146, ME-9F1) staining. Nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue). Ten mice were included in each group. Bar represents 50 μm. (B) The graph represents average vessel number in 5 random fields of each section. ***P < .001.