High-Dose Neural Stem/Progenitor Cell Transplantation Increases Engraftment and Neuronal Distribution and Promotes Functional Recovery in Rats after Acutely Severe Spinal Cord Injury

Figure 4

High transplantation dose significantly increased the distribution of MAP-2-positive neurons in the spinal cord transection site. (a–c) Overview of MAP-2 and DAPI fluorescent immunolabeling in a horizontal section showing excellent MAP-2-positive neurons filling in the T10 complete transection site in the high-dose group compared to the low-dose and SCI group at 8 weeks postgrafting (the white dotted lines indicated the boundary between the host spinal cord and the lesion area). Scale bars: 500 μm. (A1, B1, and C1) Higher magnification from (a–c) revealing MAP-2-positive neurons distribute in the central of the injury site. Scale bars: 200 μm. (d) Quantitative analyses of the area of MAP-2 positive in the central of the lesion area for all groups at 8 weeks postsurgery. Note that the transplantation of NSPCs can increase the area of MAP-2 positive compared to the SCI group. Meanwhile, the area of center in the injury site was significantly greater in the high-dose versus low-dose group (, animals per group; , ). (e) Quantitative analyses of the percentage of the MAP-2-positive area in the total area of lesion site that is the sum of MAP-2, GFAP, and MBP-positive area at injury site in each subject for three groups (, animals per group; , ). (F-1, F-2, F-3, and F-4) A z-stack image triple labeled for GFP, MAP-2, and DAPI reveals that GFP-expressing NSPC-derived MAP-2-positive neurons in the injury site (white arrow indicating the MAP-2-positive neuron extend two dendrite). Scale bars: 10 μm.

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