Figure 3

Intrasplenic adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation improves insulin-producing β-cell mass in diabetic treated mice. Pancreata from Control-PBS and adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ADMSC)-treated mice were collected 70 days after the treatment. Islet morphology was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and the in situ insulin content was detected by immunohistochemistry assay. (A) Representative H&E and insulin-stained islets from the Control-PBS group (left panel) and the responder ADMSC-treated group (R-ADMSCs; right panel) are shown. Original magnification 100×. (B) The number of islets per section (left y axis) was counted and the islet area (right y axis) was determined. (C) Blood samples of nonfasting mice were collected at day 70 post transplantation and circulating-insulin levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Bars represent average ± standard deviation. *P <0.05 (Control-PBS vs. R-ADMSCs). NR-ADMSCs, nonresponder ADMSC-treated mice; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline.