Fig. 4

Histological examination of the graft site 12 weeks after surgery. (a) Flow chart of the test design. (b) Recovery of motor function; n = 8 rats per group. (c) Spinal cord tissue stained with hematoxylin and eosin; scale bar = 500 μm. (d) Representative immunofluorescence images of gross observations of injured spinal cord segments 4 weeks post-surgery, showing mScarlet distribution throughout the injured spinal cord and highlighting the role of NPS in promoting the survival and migration of EMSCs-derived cells in vivo. Red fluorescent protein-positive (mScarlet) cells are derived from transplanted NPS-EMSCs; scale bar = 500 μm. (e) Western blot analysis of NPS expression at the injury site(n = 6). (f) Statistical plot of the results of the Western blot analysis of NPS. * P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ns: no significant difference