Figure 3.

DPSCs mediate PC12 differentiation.

Phase-contrast microscopic images of PC12 cells cultured on poly-L-lysine coated plates for 8 days in serum-free RPMI 1640 (control), 50 ng/mL NGF, 50% DPSCs-CM or DPSCs/PC12 co-cultures. DPSCs-CM and NGF prominently induced outgrowth of neurites from PC12 cells. Cytoskeletal marker βIII-tubulin (red) and mature neuronal marker MAP-2 (green) were used to outline the differences in the neurite length between different treated groups. DAPI was used as a counterstain for nuclei. Scale bar is 100 µm. Bar charts quantitative analysis of the average neurite length and the average number of neurites bearing cells/field using ImageJ analysis. Data are presented as mean ± SEM from three independent experiments with 15 replicates for each group/experiment. ***P < 0.001. #P < 0.001, vs. other three groups. CM: Conditioned medium; DPSCs: dental pulp stem cells; NGF: nerve growth factor.