Effects of Ara-C induced inhibition on grafted NPC survival and migration
Two weeks after NPC transplantation (timeline in A) we assessed graft survival and migration in both the striatum and nigra (B, C). Grafts in both the Ara-C (E) and no Ara-C (D) treated rats appeared healthy. Grafted cell counts of hPAP+ cells counterstained with hematoxylin showed that transplanted NPC survival was somewhat better in the nigral region as compared with the striatum (F). Also, animals receiving Ara-C showed generally lower cell counts than those not infused with Ara-C although not significantly. In terms of graft migration, transplanted cells in animals which did not receive Ara-C seemed restricted to the injection site with minimal spread (D). However, in animals which were infused with Ara-C prior to transplantation grafts appeared more spread out with irregular borders (E). Also, in three Ara-C infused animals a particularly widespread migration of hPAP - NPCs in the striatum was observed (G, H). Scale bars: D, E, H – 100 μm, G – 500 μm