Fig. 4

Haematoxylin/eosin (H&E) and Masson’s trichrome (Masson’s TC) stainings (a) revealed the gap in the dermis and panniculus carnosus filled with connective tissue and cells corresponding to the wound and made apparent that the use of hADSC decreased the wound gap. Scale bars 200 μm. Quantification of wound gap (b) showed that in the absence of hADSCs, a significantly lower wound gap was observed in both sides of MatriStem™ in comparison to the sham and significantly higher wound gap than the hADSC injection was found in all groups, but the BM side of the XenoMEM™. In the presence of hADSCs, all groups, but the BM side of the MatriStem™, significantly decreased the wound gap in comparison to sham and the BM side of the MatriStem™ and the CT side of the XenoMEM™ showed a significantly higher wound gap than the hADSC injection. Scar index quantification (c) showed that in the absence of hADSCs, a significantly lower scar index was observed in both sides of MatriStem™ in comparison to sham and significantly higher scar index than the hADSC injection was observed with the Integra™ scaffold and the CT side of the XenoMEM™. In the presence of hADSCs, the hADSC injection and hADSCs with the CT side of the MatriStem™ and the BM side of XenoMEM™ showed a significantly lower scar index than the sham and only the CT side of the XenoMEM™ showed a significantly higher scar index than hADSC injection. Epidermal thickness quantification (d) in the absence or presence of hADSC did not show any differences between groups. Data presented as average ± standard deviation (n = 6). Asterisk indicates a significantly (p < 0.05) lower value than the sham group and double number sign indicates a significantly (p < 0.05) higher value than ADSC group