Figure 4.
Effect of substance P combined with epidermal stem cells on types I and III collagen immunoreactivities in wounds of diabetic rats at 4, 7, 10 days after injury (immunohistochemical staining, × 400)
Type I collagen immunoreactivity gradually increased with time in each group. Type III collagen immunoreactivity was high in the early stage of injury, but gradually reduced with healing. Immunoreactivity is shown by a brown color. Group A: injection of substance P + human amniotic membrane incubated with epidermal stem cells around and at the center of the wound; group B: injection of 250 μL PBS + human amniotic membrane incubated with epidermal stem cells around and at the center of the wound; group C: injection of substance P + human amniotic membrane without epidermal stem cells around and at the center of the wound; group D: injection of 250 μL PBS+ human amniotic membrane without epidermal stem cells around and at the center of the wound. PBS: Phosphate buffered saline.