Figure 6.

Astrocyte activation and intrinsic VEGF mobilization. (a) Photomicrographs of the cortical region below the EMS and of an untreated hemisphere on day 42 showing increased GFAP-positive astrocytic activation in animals receiving PDGF or VIP myoblasts with GFAP/VEGF co-localization (arrows) as a sign of intrinsic VEGF mobilization in VIP-treated animals. The dashed rectangle identifies the area of detail enlargement on the right. Bar = 100 µm. (b) Bar graph quantifying the area (µm²) of GFAP/VEGF co-localization per mm²; *p<0.05. (c) Reporter gene expression at the muscle/brain interface (arrows) and (d) real-time PCR using IRES primer and Western blot confirm exogenous gene product transcription and protein expression at the muscle/brain interface on day 42 after myoblast implantation; *p<0.05. m: muscle; c: cortex.

EV: empty vector; VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor; PDGF: platelet-derived growth factor; GFAP: glial fibrillary acidic protein.