FIG. 3.

(A) Mean proportional channel area occupied by GFAP, S-100, and eGFP-positive cells in each animal group. A significantly higher proportion of GFAP staining was seen in the Matrigel group (p<0.001) (n=91 channels) than in Schwann cell (n=70 channels) or eGFP-MSC channels (n=72). (B) Axon numbers in Matrigel, Schwann cell, and eGFP-MSC scaffolds were calculated as the median value of axons counted in tissue sections spaced at quarter length intervals through the scaffold (n=18 scaffold sections per animal group). Schwann cell scaffolds contained higher axon numbers than were seen in Matrigel scaffolds, while eGFP-MSC-loaded scaffolds did not support axonal growth to any significant extent.