Figure 5

Neuroepithelial stem cells offer enteric nervous system appropriate differentiation upon grafting into recipient aganglionic gut. Evidence of 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI)-labeled neuroepithelial stem cell graft (shown in blue) differentiation into neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS; shown in green) and choline acetyltransferase (shown in red) neuronal subtypes was apparent at 8 weeks post transplantation in the (A) control group and (B) Bcl-2 group. LM, longitudinal muscle; CM, circular muscle. Scale bar = 200 μm. (C) Ratio of nNOS-positive cells versus DAPI-labeled cells was counted. Bcl-2 overexpression increased the ratio of nNOS-positive cells. *Significant difference compared with control group (P < 0.05, n = 6 for each group).