Fig. 4

EVs minimize 10 Gy WBI-induced alteration of the small intestinal structure at 3 days. Nude mice received 10 Gy WBI and were sacrificed at 3 days. A total of 600 μg of MSC-derived EVs was intravenously administered in three 200-μg injections 6 h, 24 h, and 48 h after WBI. MSC were intravenously administered with one injection of 5 million cells, 6 h after WBI. Control mice received the vehicle. a Small intestinal sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin-safran (HES). Representative pictures of small intestinal slices from non-irradiated mice (a (a)), mice subjected to 10 Gy WBI and treated with PBS (a (b)), mice subjected to 10 Gy WBI and treated with MSC (a (c)), and mice subjected to 10 Gy WBI and treated by MSC-derived EVs (a (d)). Scale bar 100 μm. Quantitative analysis of b the villus height of the small intestine (μm) and c the crypt depth of the small intestine (μm). Each value represents the average of 20–30 independent measurements per animal coming from 3 independently repeated experiments (N = 3, 6 to 8 animals per group and experiment). ***p < 0.0001 compared with the non-irradiated group, ^$p < 0.05 compared with the 10-Gy group