Fig. 3

Multiple injections of ENSCs partially restore colorectal dysmotility of nNOS^−/− mouse in vivo. Delayed rectal bead expulsion time seen in Sham-operated nNOS^−/− (KO) mice is normalized by multiple injections of ENSCs [A KO (Sham) vs. KO (30NS × 3), *p < 0.05], but not by single injection. Fecal pellet output is significantly lower in Sham-operated KO (B *p < 0.05) whereas injection of ENSCs restored this phenotype [B KO (Sham) vs. KO (30NS × 3), **p < 0.01; KO (Sham) vs. KO (30NS × 1), *p < 0.05]. Colonic smooth muscle activity measured by electromyography in vivo demonstrated significantly decreased activity in Sham-operated KO in comparison to Sham-operated WT [C WT (Sham) vs. KO (Sham), *p < 0.05] whereas multiple injections of ENSCs significantly improved muscle activity [C KO (Sham) vs. KO (30NS × 3), **p < 0.01]