Fig. 1

Transplanted ADSCs survived in the injured spinal cord in a mouse model of SCI. ADSC treatment promoted the recovery of the locomotor capacity of SCI mice, as evaluated by primary BMS scores (a) at different time points and terminal BMS subscores (b) (*P < 0.05 versus the control group; **P < 0.01 versus the control group; ^#P < 0.05 versus the other two groups). c The morphology of ADSCs in cell culture at passage 3. Cultured cells showed typically spindle-shaped morphology under phase-contrast microscopy. d ADSCs infected with GFP reporter genes showed strong fluorescent staining. e A horizontal section of the spinal cord from the ADSC group containing GFP-positive donor cells at the injury site. Double immunofluorescence staining showed that GFP-positive donor cells were negative for the neuronal protein NF200 (f), the microglial marker IBA1 (g), and the glial protein GFAP (h). Scale bars = 100 μm (c, d); scale bar = 200 μm (e); scale bars = 50 μm (f–h)