Figure 3
MABs promote myogenesis and neovascularization and MABsallo-VEGF additionally promote axonal sprouting in the urethra following SVD. Representative images of immunostaining for: (A) smooth muscle (α-SMA—green) and fast skeletal muscle (Fast Myosin—red) in a mid-urethral section. Nuclei stained in blue (DAPI) at 14d and 60d after SVD; (B) endothelial cell marker (CD34) around the mid-urethra at 14d after injection and (C) nerve sprouting (GAP-43) around the mid-urethra at 7d after injection. At the bottom of the figure, histograms display counts for (D) Fast Myosin, (E) α-SMA, (F) tCD34 staining at 14d and 60d and (G) GAP-43 staining at 7d. At 14d, MABsallo and MABsallo-VEGF injected rats express significantly more Fast Myosin and α-SMA than controls. At 60d, MABsallo-VEGF injected rats express significantly more Fast Myosin and α-SMA than controls. In controls, striated and smooth muscle fibers appear thinner than those injected with MABs at 14d and 60d after injury. MABsallo and MABsallo-VEGF increased neovascularization around the urethra compared to controls at 14d and 60d after injection. At 7d post injury, MABsallo-VEGF rats showed a higher immunostained area for axonal sprouting marker compared to controls. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.001; ***p < 0.0001; ****p < 0.00001. SVD simulated vaginal delivery, MABsallo Allogeneic mesoangioblasts, MABsallo-VEGF VEGF-overexpressed allogeneic mesoangioblasts. Control group: saline injection. Data are shown as mean and StDev and individual data points.
