Combined Transplantation of Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells and Endothelial Progenitor Cells Improve Diabetic Erectile Dysfunction in a Rat Model

Figure 1

Characterization of cultured ADSCs and EPCs. (a) The adherent cultured rat ADSCs exhibited fibroblast-like morphology (×100) (b) Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated these ADSCs was strongly positive for CD73, CD90, and CD105. (c) The ELISA assay showed that ADSCs could secrete a large amount of VEGF and SDF-1 in vitro. (d) The cultured EPCs exhibited the typical cobblestone-shaped appearance (×100). (e) Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated these EPCs were strongly positive for CD31, CD73, CD105, and CD133. (f) Immunofluorescence staining confirmed that EPCs were positive for EC markers CD31, vWF, and KDR. Scale bars: 50 μm. VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor; SDF-1: stromal cell-derived factor-1; vWF: von Willebrand Factor; KDR: kinase insert domain receptor.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)