Peripheral Circulation and Astrocytes Contribute to the MSC-Mediated Increase in IGF-1 Levels in the Infarct Cortex in a dMCAO Rat Model

Figure 4

MSC treatment decreases the quantity of GFAP+ cells but increases GFAP+/IGF-1+ cells in the ipsilateral striatum and corpus callosum. (a–d) In the striatum and corpus callosum of the sham group, IGF-1 signals were rarely found. (e–h) In the striatum and corpus callosum of the ischemia control group, both IGF-1 and GFAP signals were increased. (i–l) After MSC transplantation, more GFAP+/IGF-1+ cells were observed in the striatum and corpus callosum. (a, e, and i) GFAP staining. (b, f, and j) IGF-1. (c, g, and k) DAPI nuclear staining. (d, h, and l) Double-stained GFAP+/IGF-1+ cells. (m, n) (squares in (h, l)) The amplified view of GFAP+/IGF-1+ cells. (o) The histogram of GFAP+/IGF-1+ cell quantity and percentages in the ischemia group and MSC transplantation group (, , compared with the ischemia vehicle group). Arrow: double-labeled cells. Scale bar, 50 μm.