Fig. 5

Assessment of axonal regeneration in the injury/graft site of spinal cord at 8 weeks after cell transplantation. a The expression of neurofilament 200 (NF200) and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans clone CS-56 (CSPG) in the gelatin sponge (GS), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and NT-3-MSCs (MN) + TrkC-MSCs (MT) groups was detected by Western blotting (WB). b, c Bar charts demonstrate semi-quantitative analysis of the level of NF200 and CSPG expressions. In the MN + MT group, the level of NF200 expression was higher than in the GS and MSCs groups (b) (*P < 0.05, ^# P < 0.05). The level of CSPG expression was lower in the MN + MT and MSCs groups compared with the GS group (c) (*P < 0.05). d Bar charts demonstrate the axon density in the rostral, central, and caudal areas of the injury/graft site. The axon density in the rostral and central areas of the injury/graft site was higher in the MN + MT and MSCs groups compared with the GS group (*P < 0.05). The axon density in the caudal area of the injury/graft site in the MN + MT group was higher than in the MSCs and GS groups (*P < 0.05, ^# P < 0.05). e–g NF200-positive nerve fiber regeneration in the GS, MSCs, and MN + MT groups. The enlarged images from the rostral, central, and caudal areas of the injury/graft site are shown in E1–E3, F1–F3, and G1–G3. One-way analysis of variance with least significant difference test statistics was performed to compare the axon density. Scale bars = 50 μm