Fig. 4

MSC tracing following intrathecal injection. A, B CSF of rats was collected 3 days after intrathecal injection of GFP-expressing MSCs and inspected under a fluorescence microscope. 2D MSCs formed more abundant and larger GFP⁺ cell aggregates in the CSF than 3D MSCs. Blockade of VCAM-1 in 2D MSCs reduced MSC aggregation. Samples from 3 rats in each group were analyzed, and representative images are shown (A). Average percentages of aggregated MSCs (≥ 3 cells per aggregate) were counted, including VCAM-1Ab group (B). C Brain sections. Three days post-MSC injection were examined under a fluorescence microscope. GFP⁺ cell aggregates were detected in the lateral ventricles of 2D MSC-treated rats, while single GFP⁺ cells were found in similar positions of 3D MSC-treated rats. Scale bar, 100 μm