Nestin expression of PSC (black arrows) at baseline (8a), H24 (8b), H48 (8c) and H72 (8d).

<p>Smooth muscle actin expression of PSC (black arrows) at baseline (8e), H24 (8f), H48 (8g) and H72 (8h). Double Ki67/α-SMA expression of PSC was performed. The nuclear Ki67 and the cytoplasmic α-SMA expression (black arrows) appeared as red and brown immunostaining, respectively (baseline, 8i; H24, 8j; H48, 8 k and H72, 8l). The Ki67 nuclear staining of PSC was observed (baseline, 8m; H24, 8o; H48, 8p and H72, 8q).</p

Immunohistochemical expression of caspase-3 antibody at baseline (a), H24 (3b), H48 (3c) and H72 (3d) in hyperoxic conditions.

<p>At H72 (3d), less than 5 cells per HPF expressed the caspase-3. Other types of cells (islets, ductal) did not express caspase-3 at any time. The membranous CA9 and the nuclear Hif-1α expression in acinar cells was studied at baseline (3e and 3i), H24 (3f and 3j), H48 (3g and 3k) and H72 (3h and 3l). The intensity greatly increased in dedifferentiated areas with a gradual appearance.</p

Expression of the Hif-1α in hyperoxic conditions (H24, 5a; H48, 5c and H72, 5e) and in normoxic conditions (H24, 5b; H48, 5d and H72, 5f).

<p>Hyperoxia conditions promoted a more intense expression of the hypoxia pathways.</p

Viability of human pancreas tissue slices cultured <i>ex-vivo</i> for up to 3 days by a MTT test at each step of the procedures at baseline, H24, H48 and H72.

<p>All data are given as the means of at least three slices.</p

Expression of the CA9 (4a) and the HIF-1α (4b) in acinar cells under hyperoxic and normoxic conditions of culture.

<p>The intensity of staining was evaluated as negative scored as 0, weak scored as 1, moderate scored at 2 and strong scored as 3. Results are expressed as the number of cases for each category of the score.</p

Expression of trypsin (7a) in acinar cells and CK7 in ductal cells (7b) under hyperoxic conditions of culture.

<p>The intensity of staining was evaluated as negative scored as 0, weak scored as 1, moderate scored at 2 and strong scored as 3. Results are expressed as the number of cases for each category of the score.</p

Immunochemical expression of Ki67, Nestin and Actin smooth muscle under 90% O2 (9a, 9c and 9e) and 21% O2 (9b, 9d and 9f) conditions of culture.

<p>The Ki67 expression was assessed by counting the mean number of Ki67 PSC per high-power field (HPF x 40 objective) in a minimum of 3 HPFs. The result corresponded to the median number of PSC per field in all cases. The nestin and α-SMA expression was evaluated using a semi quantitative score. The score corresponded to 0: no positive PSC staining per HPF; 1: rare positive PSC per HPF and 2: several positive PSC per HPF. The number of positive PSC represented the mean of PSC counted in a minimum of 3 HPFs. Results are expressed as the number of cases for each category of the score.</p

Trypsin expression intensity in acinar cells gradually decreased in the dedifferentiation area (baseline (6a), H24 (6b), H48 (6c) and H72 (6d)).

<p>A contrario, an increased expression of ductal and acinar expression of CK7 was progressively observed during time of culture (Baseline (6e), H24 (6f), H48 (6g) anf H72 (6h)). The TGF-β and the collagen-I expression in pancreatic tissue at baseline (6i and 6m) increased during the culture time (H24, 6j and 6n) especially at peripheral of the slice (H48, 6k and 6o and H72, 6l and 6p).</p

Microscopic examination of tissue slices at baseline (1a, 1b), H24 (1c, 1d), H48 (1e, 1f) and H72 (1g, 1h) in hyperoxic conditions.

<p>Different types of cells were observed: pancreatic ducts (black asterisks, 1a), islets (black arrows, 1a), acinar cells (black asterisks, 1b) and endothelial cells (black arrows, 1b). Acinoductal metaplasia (black arrows, 1d, 1f and 1h) was observed with a gradual appearance during the culture process.</p

Details of the viscoelastic parameters according to the METAVIR score.

<p>Details of the viscoelastic parameters according to the METAVIR score.</p