Fig. 3. Grafted GDNF-hNSPCs protect the dCST, promote the formation of detour circuits, and reduce lesion volume and glia scar formation. (A) Representative images of BDA-labeled dCST fibers (red) at 6 mm rostral to the lesion epicenter in the different experimental groups. The boxed areas in the left panels are shown at high magnification in the right panels. (B) Quantification of the number of dCST fibers up to 6 mm rostral and caudal to the lesion epicenter. (C) Representative images of dCST collaterals (black, left panel) and FG-labeled PSNs (white, right panel) in the cervical enlargement of the spinal cord in the different experimental groups. The white dashed lines in the right panel indicate the margins between gray and white matter of the spinal cord. (D) Quantification of dCST collaterals and FG-labeled PSNs in the cervical enlargement. (E) Representative images of the contacts between dCST collaterals (black) and PSNs (brown) in the cervical enlargement. Arrowheads show closely located collateral fibers and PSNs. (F) Quantification of the number of contacts between dCST collaterals and PSNs. (G) Representative images of GFAP immunostaining in the lesion and adjacent areas of the spinal cord in the different experimental groups. Dashed lines indicate GFAP-negative areas. (H) Quantification of lesion volume, spared tissue volume, and glial scars. Scale bars: 100 μm in A, C; 40 μm in E; and 1 mm in G. Data represent the means±SEM. *p<0.05 vs. vehicle, ***p<0.001 vs. vehicle, #p<0.01 vs. Mock-hNSPCs.
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