In normal rats, the CST showed a unilateral innervation manner (A). In rats after MCAo, DiI-labeled intact CST axons extended into the denervated side of the gray matter (B). BMSC treatment significantly increased the intact CST axonal sprouting into the denervated side in both the cervical and lumbar levels (C and D, *p<0.05). Insert of A, schematic drawing of the spinal gray matter showing the position of the photomicrograph appearing in A, B and C. cc: central canal. Scale Bar=25 μm in A–C.