Fig. 2

First trimester (FTM) and term human umbilical cord perivascular cells (HUCPVCs) express and secrete testis niche-associated growth factors. ELISA analysis of the human growth factors a basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), b bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), c glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and d leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in FTM HUCPVC- and term HUCPVC-conditioned media. Basal media (DMEM-F12) was used as a control. The figure shows the average of two independent lines of FTM HUCPVCs and term HUCPVCs each analyzed in duplicate. Error bars indicate standard deviations. *** p = 0.005. e Percentage of cells expressing testicular progenitor-associated markers including stage-specific embryonic antigen 4 (SSEA4), CD9, CD90, and CD49f as determined by flow cytometry (n = 3 independent FTM and term lines each)