Comparative Analysis of the Cell Fates of Induced Schwann Cells from Subcutaneous Fat Tissue and Naïve Schwann Cells in the Sciatic Nerve Injury Model

Figure 5

Light micrographs of toluidine blue staining for myelin sheath at the injured area. (a) In normal sciatic nerve, discrete and well-organized perineurial structure was noted and an even distribution of axons within the perineurium was also noted. Axon density was lower in the eGFP-SCs group than in the eGFP-SCs group; their diameter was also smaller than that in the normal sciatic nerve. (b–d) Quantitative analysis of axon density (b), axon diameter (c), and thickness of myelin sheath (d) in the 100 μm × 100 μm square area of cross sections. Five images of cross sections of the injury middle line (640) were analyzed for statistical analysis. Axon density per unit area was lower in normal group (). eGFP-SCs group and eGFP-SCs showed similar axon density (). Axons diameters, including myelin sheath and thickness of myelin sheath, were significantly smaller in the eGFP-SCs group than in the normal group (), and no significant differences with the eGFP-SCs group were noted (). In contrast, eGFP-SCs did not show any statistical differences with the normal group (). Data are represented as mean ± SEM. ; .

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