Fig. 6.

WMLT guided and promoted regeneration of VGluT- and CGRP-positive nerve fibers. (A) and (B) Distribution of GFP ⁺ OPC-NT-3 after transplantation into the WMLT (A) and CS-OPC-N groups (B). (C) and (D) VGluT ⁺ nerve fibers passed longitudinally through the spinal cord injury/graft site 1 month after transplantation in the WMLT group (arrows in C), while some extended in a disorderly fashion in the CS-OPC-N group (arrow in D). (E) and (F) CGRP⁺ nerve fibers regenerated in a similar way with VGluT⁺ nerve fibers in the two groups. More CGRP ⁺ nerve fibers could be directly regenerated in the WMLT group (arrows in E), while a few CGRP ⁺ nerve fibers were regenerated in a disorderly fashion in the CS-OPC-N group (arrow in F). (G) and (H) Bar chart showing relative fluorescence intensity of the VGluT ⁺ area (G) and CGRP⁺ (H) areas at the injury/graft site in the three groups (* indicates statistical significance between the CS-OPC-N and other groups, P < 0.05). Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 5). One-way ANOVA with an LSD-t test was performed. Scale bars = 1000 μm in (A) and (B); 50 μm in (C)–(F).