Fig. 2

Characteristics of Schwann cell (SC)-like cells derived from differentiated adipose-derived stem cells (dASCs) by sustaining/intermittent induction methods. a In the leftmost column of optical microscope photographs, undifferentiated ASCs (uASCs) had a spindle-like shape and, with extension of the induction period, the dASCs became morphologically more similar to SCs, exhibiting a narrow fusiform-like shape with a bipolar or tripolar structure. In the immunofluorescence photographs, in the second column, S100-positive cells are stained with green fluorescence; nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) (p75)-positive cells are stained with red fluorescence in the third column. The blue fluorescence always corresponds to cell nuclei. In the rightmost column of the immunofluorescence photographs, the three areas of fluorescence merge. b The rate of S100-positive cells in intermittent dASCs group (86.78 ± 6.03%) was not significantly different compare to that in sustaining dASCs 10d (71.89 ± 12.37%) or SCs groups (88.60 ± 7.15%), but was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the uASCs (6.80 ± 2.44%), sustaining dASCs 4d (34.90 ± 10.70%), and sustaining dASCs 7d groups (72.81 ± 10.53%). c The rate of NGFR (p75)-positive cells was not significantly different among all six groups. d The number of surviving cells in sustaining dASCs 10d (33.50 ± 7.74) was significantly less (p < 0.05) than that in intermittent dASCs (46.40 ± 9.00), sustaining dASCs 4d (61.50 ± 8.32), and 7d groups (59.00 ± 9.85). Data are expressed as means ± SEM. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post-test or Dunnett’s T3 post-test. n.s., no significant difference