Fig. 4

Effects of DA-BMSCs transplantation on the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the right substantia nigra of PD rat models. (A) Representative images of whole-brain with hematoxylin and eosin staining in each group 8 weeks after transplantation. (B) Representative images of whole-brain with TH‑3,3ʹ‑diaminobenzidine staining (TH-DAB) in each group 8 weeks after transplantation. The right image was the higher magnification of the left boxed areas. (C) Number of TH⁺ cells in the right substantia nigra of each group. All data were presented as mean ± SEM. The P-values are from multiple comparisons in one-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s multiple comparison test (n = 4), ****P < 0.0001, n.s. no significance: P > 0.05. (D) DA-BMSCs formed a distinct graft area and migrated from the graft site into the periphery of the injured area, and the migrated distance gradually increased with time. (E) The transplanted DA-BMSCs could differentiate into neural cells in the host brain and exhibit neuronal morphology (white arrows) and dendritic structure (red arrow heads) after 8 weeks of transplantation.