Figure 7

Examination of cells pre-transplantation and 2 days or 1 month post transplantation. (A) Viability of trans-retinoic acid (RA)-primed CD133+ABCG2+CXCR4+ mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) held in either PBS or pluronic F-127 (PF-127) carrier for 2 hours prior to implantation. Results represent the average +/- SD for viability of cells from 10 blood donors. Statistically significant comparisons (*P < 0.05) for PBS compared to PF-127 as vehicle are indicated. (B) Schematic diagram showing site of implantation of MSC into the lateral ventricle (red circle) of non-immunosuppressed male Sprague-Dawley rats. Arrow indicates the site of the fluid percussion traumatic brain injury (TBI). (C-H) Confocal micrographs of 7-μm sections of brains. (C) Sections from uninjured rats sacrificed at 1 month showed that carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE)-labeled MSC (green) expressed CXCR4 (red). White arrows point to CFSE-labeled MSC. (D) Sections of brains of TBI rats sacrificed 2 days after transplantation. CXCR-4+ CD133+ABCG2+CXCR4+ MSC are noted with white arrows. (E) Brain section 1 month after transplantation (ventricle is indicated by the white *, white arrows identify migrated CFSE+ (green) MSC. (F) Higher magnification image of MSC in the hippocampus of the TBI rat. (G) Some cells were elongated and expressed tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) (red) or (H) type III beta tubulin (Tuj1) (red). (C-H) diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) nuclear stain (blue).