Figure 6.

NPCs cultured in low degradability gels enter a quiescent-like state but lose expression of stemness markers. A) NPCs cultured in low degradability gels do not exhibit significant proliferation over 14 days in culture, as measured by DNA content. B) The metabolic activity of NPCs cultured in low degradability gels is decreased over 14 days in culture, as measured by ATP content. C) Apoptotic activity remains at or below baseline throughout 14 days of culture in low degradability gels, as measured by caspase-3/7 activity. D) NPCs lose expression of the neural stemness markers nestin and Sox2 during culture in low degradability gels. In (A)-(C), data are presented as mean ± s.d. In (A), n = 6–7 independent gels. In (B), n = 5–7 independent gels. In (C), n = 3 independent gels. In (D), data are presented as geometric mean with 95% confidence intervals. n = 3–4 independent gels. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ****p < 0.0001, compared to values at day 0, one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc test.