FIG. 10.

Primitive neural stem cell transplantation results in teratoma formation and loss of recovery after SCI. (A) The animal that received pNSC followed an expected recovery curve as noted by the BMS score for the first 3 weeks after SCI. After this, the BMS scores begin to decrease, reaching complete loss of hind limb motor function by 6 weeks post SCI. Data represent mean±SEM, n=3. (B) Image of whole fixed spinal cord at 8 weeks after SCI with pNSC transplantation shows large outgrowths around injury and injection sites. (C) Confocal images of longitudinal sections with pNSC counterstained DAPI show numerous abnormal cell integration patterns of the exogenous GFP+ cells in a pattern indicating a teratoma formation. Scale bars represent 250 μm. (D) Immunofluorescence labeling for epithelial neoplasms markers, nestin, cytokeratin 7, and cytokeratin 20. The teratoma-like cells are positively labeled with all three markers denoting gastrointestinal carcinoma nature to the abnormal cell growth. Scale bar represents 100 μm. Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/scd