Fig. 2.

CXCL12-EPC transplantation improved neurobehavioral outcomes and reduced brain atrophy at 5 weeks in ischemic mice. A Experimental design. B mNSS evaluation in PBS, LV-CXCL12, GFP-EPC, and CXCL12-EPC groups (n = 8–11 mice/group). C Rotarod test in PBS, LV-CXCL12, GFP-EPC, and CXCL12-EPC groups (n = 8–11 mice/group). D (a) Representative micrographs of coronal sections stained by cresyl violet for brain atrophy at 5 weeks after ischemic stroke. (b) Quantification of brain atrophy (n = 6 mice/group) at 5 weeks after ischemic stroke. Data presented as mean ± SD. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001. pMCAO permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion, mNSS modified neurological severity score, d day, w week, PBS phosphate-buffered saline, GFP-EPC endothelial progenitor cell modified by gfp gene, GFP green fluorescent protein, CXCL12-EPC endothelial progenitor cell modified by cxcl12 gene