Fig. 3
Influence of intrathecal MSC injection on ventricular volume and neurological function. A Experimental scheme showing the times of MRI scan, MSC injection (3 × 106 per dose) and neurological functional analysis. B Twenty-four hours after injection, rats receiving 2D MSCs, but not 3D MSCs or ACSF, exhibited signs of blood congestion in the periorbital and perinasal regions that lasted several days (n = 6; representative images are shown). C MRI scans 24 h after MSC transplantation showed enlargements of the two lateral ventricles which was more evident in 2D MSC-treated rats (n = 6; representative images of one rat from each group are shown). D Measurement of ventricular volumes by MRI on Days 1, 2 and 14 post-transplantation of MSCs showed a decrease in the enlarged ventricle, particularly in rats receiving 3D MSCs (*P < 0.05; n = 6). E, F Beam walking analysis (number of paw slips) on different days (D1–13) following injection of MSCs with different treatments (E) and the average time taken to cross the beam (F) (n = 6; *P < 0.05, ·P < 0.1)