Figure 3.
hPVSCs Improve Compromised Uterine Environments for Embryo Implantation and Subsequent Developments in Mice with AS
(A) The number of implantation sites (ISs) were observed on days 5, 6, 8, and 12 of pregnancy (days 5, 6, 8, and 12; n = 4 or 5 mice in each group). +, IU delivery of hPVSCs (1 × 106), +++, IU delivery of hPVSCs (5 × 106). (B) Representative images of uteri with or without ISs in mice with AS on different days of pregnancy (days 5, 6, and 8). On day 5, ISs were not observed in mice with AS and unimplanted blastocysts were harvested. Embryo implantation did occur in these mice on day 6. Arrowheads indicate the ISs. On day 8, ISs were decreased in mice with AS and sites of spontaneous abortion were harvested (arrows). (C) The number of ISs in mice with AS on days 5, 6, and 8. Numbers above the bars indicate the number of mice with ISs/total mice examined. (D) Immunohistochemical staining of EGR1 for ISs on day 5. (E) The number of ISs observed on day 12. (F) Representative images of embryos and a distribution graph of weights of embryos collected from ISs on day 12. (G) Placental histology and weight distribution of ISs on day 12. The horizontal black lines represent the median values of weights of embryos (F) and their placentas (G). ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01.