Photobiomodulation Can Enhance Stem Cell Viability in Cochlea with Auditory Neuropathy but Does Not Restore Hearing

Figure 5

Changes in the peripheral auditory system after combination therapy with mESCs and PBM in a secondary neurodegeneration model. (a) Expression of GFP-mESCs at 2 weeks after combination therapy. NF expression (red) had decreased in the KM only group and increased in the KM-SC and KM-SC-PBM groups. GFP expression (green) in cochlea was observed only in the KM-SC-PBM. One KM-SC-PBM showed abnormal GFP expression in all areas of the cochlea. (b) Quantitative analysis of GFP-positive cells at 2 weeks after combination therapy, only the deformed KM-SC-PBM showed the GFP-positive cell in all turns. (c) Quantitative analysis of NF after combination therapy. The KM-SC-PBM group, except for the deformed KM-SC-PBM sample, showed a higher intensity of NF compared to KM. (d) Comparison of NF between KM-SC-PBM groups and the deformed KM-SC-PBM. , , and . Scale bar = 100 µM. (NF = neurofilament, NFH = neurofilament heavy).

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