Fig. 7

Histological analyses of the injected and non-injected mdx/SCID skeletal muscles. a H&E staining shows active muscle regeneration within the muscles treated with human DPSCs and AFSCs, as represented by a high number of centronucleated muscle fibers. Comparison of fibrotic processes between controls (non-injected mdx/SCID GMs) and mdx/SCID GMs injected with human DPSCs and AFSCs. Masson’s trichrome staining indicates a reduction in fibrosis within the muscles treated with human DPSCs and AFSCs, when compared with controls (non-injected muscle). Scale bar = 50 μm. b Histomorphometric analysis of the muscles treated with human DPSCs and AFSCs. Upper left: histograms represent the percentage of regenerating centronucleated muscle fibers. **P <0.01 versus control (ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test). Upper right: histograms represent the percentage area of fibrosis. **P <0.01 versus control (ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test). Lower left: histograms represent the average size (in square micrometers) of centrally nucleated muscle fibers. ***P <0.001 versus control (ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test). Lower right: histograms represent average size (in square micrometers) of whole muscle fibers. ***P <0.001 versus control (ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test). hAFSC, human amniotic fluid stem cell, ANOVA analysis of variance, hDPSC, human dental pulp stem cell, GM gastrocnemius muscle, H&E hematoxylin and eosin