Figure 2.

ECM proteins and their impact on the viability of NSCs in the scaffolds.

(A–I) Distribution of CSPGs (A–C), LN (D–F) and COL4 (G–I) on the DON, DSN and CS scaffolds. Scale bars: 60 µm in panels. (J) Immunoreactivity for CSPGs, LN and COL4 in the DON, DSN and CS scaffolds. Positive CSPGs immunoreactivity was detected in the DSN, but barely in the DON and CS. The DON had the highest immunofluorescence staining for LN and COL4, followed by the DSN, with the CS having the least staining. (K) Effects of the DON, DSN and CS scaffolds on NSC viability by Cell Counting Kit-8 analysis. Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 5). *P < 0.05 (one-way analysis of variance followed by the least statistical difference test). COL4: Collagen IV; CS: collagen sponge; CSPGs: chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans; DON: decellularized optic nerve; DSN: decellularized sciatic nerve; ECM: Extracellular matri; LN: laminin; NSCs: neural stem cells.