Fig. 4

GFAP-positive areas are compared in three different parts of the spinal segment: cranial, between 3 and 7 mm cranial; central, between 2 mm cranial and 2 mm caudal; and caudal, between 3 and 7 mm caudal to the injury epicenter a. The average GFAP-positive area around the lesion in the appropriate control group is shown as the baseline of 100 %. Rat gene expression of BDNF, VEGF, nerve growth factor (NGF), and neurotrophin 3 (NT3) analyzed by qPCR b. The level of the control expression is indicated by the number 0. An increase or decrease from this level is shown as positive or negative scale numbers, respectively. The levels of BDNF, VEGF, and NGF in the i.t. iPS-NP-treated group are significantly lower than those in the control animals. There was no significant difference between the i.s. iPS-NP-treated and control groups in terms of gene expression. Axonal sprouting evaluated by GAP43-positive fibers c. The average number of positive fibers in the control group is shown as the baseline of 100 %. Both cell-treated groups show the increased expression of GAP43, which was more pronounced in the i.s. cell-treated animals. iPS-NP neural precursors derived from induced pluripotent stem cells, i.s. intraspinal, i.t. intrathecal