Fig. 9.
MSC transplantation reduces galectin-3 expression in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord of neuropathic mice. Eight weeks after the treatment with MSC (1 × 106; STZ + MSC) or saline (STZ + saline), the galectin-3 (Gal-3) expression in the spinal cord of neuropathic mice was evaluated. Control non-diabetic group received saline instead of streptozotocin. Representative photomicrographs of spinal cord sections co-stained with Gal-3 and GFAP (a–c) or Gal-3 and Iba-1 (d–f) (200×). Insets (400×) evidenced the presence of co-staining for Gal-3 and Iba1 (e) in saline-treated diabetic mice and the absence of Gal-3 and GFAP co-stained cells (a–c). Scale bar = 50 μm. Panel g shows the quantitative analysis of the percentage area Gal-3 positive in the spinal dorsal horn. Data are expressed as means ± SEM; n = 3 mice per group. *Statistically significant as compared to the control group (p < 0.05). #Statistically significant as compared to the STZ + saline group (p < 0.05). One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test