Fig 1: Epicardial slices structure analysis. (a) Tissue architecture evaluation of epicardial slices performed using hematoxylin and eosin coloration. Scale bar, 500 μm. (b–e) Immunohistochemical staining and confocal microscopy of epicardial slices. (b) Cardiomyocytes are stained with α-sarcomeric actin and the intercalated disk is stained with connexin-43 antibody. (c) Epicardial cells highlighted with WT1 and mesenchymal derived cells stained with MSLN. (d) Microvasculature is stained with α- smooth muscle actin and the endothelial marker CD31. (e) Mesenchymal cells are stained with vimentin. Nuclei are labeled with DAPI. Scale bars, 50 μm.