Fig. 2: Combined electrical stimulation and NPCs increase endogenous stem cell production.

a Experimental timeline with electrical stimulation three times after implantation surgery. BrdU was administered i.p. when first stimulation was applied. b Schematic of areas of interest in brain tissue. Gray indicates ischemic stroke lesion. Red squares indicate the area of interest: 1. SVZ, 2. MD; and 3. PI (LV – lateral ventricle). c Representative images of fluorescent-labeled cells. Green indicates BrdU positive cells, whereas blue indicates cell nucleus. Scale bar indicates 200 µm. d BrdU positive cells in certain area of interest. Data are shown as mean ± SEM, n = 8 images/4 rats. e Representative images of fluorescently labeled cells. Blue indicates BrdU, green indicates Nestin (Nes), and red indicates Pax6 positive cells. Scale bar indicates 200 µm. f Co-stained BrdU and Pax6 or Nestin positive cells in peri-infarct area. Data are shown as mean ± SEM, n = 16 images/4 rats. d, f Analyzed using a one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s HSD post-hoc test with *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, and ****P < 0.0001.