Fig. 8

Immunofluorescence assessments of regenerated bladder supported by the autologous myofibroblast-silk fibroin (AM-SF) and AM-SF-adipose-derived stem cell (AM-SF-ASC) scaffolds and a cystotomy sham. a Photomicrographs of cytokeratin (CK), a blood vessel endothelial marker (CD31), protein expression of smooth muscle 22 alpha (SM22α), and a neuronal marker (NeuN) in the regenerated bladder tissue. White arrows denotes neuronal lineages. For all panels, the respective marker expression is displayed in green, and blue denotes DAPI nuclear counterstain; 100×, scale bars = 200 μm in the CK panels; 200×, scale bars = 200 μm in the CD31 and SM22α panels; 400×, scale bars = 50 μm in the NeuN panels. Statistical analysis of the extent of regenerated CK+ epithelium (b), CD31+ vessels (c,d), SM22α + smooth muscle bundles (e), and NeuN+ neuronal boutons (f) present in the original surgical sites of the AM-SF, AM-SF-ASC, and cystotomy sham groups. *p < 0.05 between groups. SM smooth muscle, UE urothelium, V vessels