Fig 4.

AM stromal extracts (ASE) prevented myofibroblast differentiation of AMSCs. Phalloidin staining (upper part) and α-SMA staining (lower part) were performed in the primary culture of the AMSCs. Cells maintained as pindle fibroblastic shape after 4 days cultivation on plastic in DMEM/10% FBS without (A) or with (B) ASE. However, at that time, cells already started to express α-SMA without ASE (E), but did not express α-SMA when ASE was added (F). When cultures were extended for 10 days, cells became enlarged and exhibited prominent stress fibers (C), and strong expression of α-SMA (G) without ASE. In contrast, AMSCs aggregated into spheres of varying sizes with addition of ASE. These spheres did not express any stress fibers (D), but expressed weak α-SMA staining (H). Bar represents 100 µm.