Fig. 8

EF pre-stimulated NSCs transplantation improved neurogenesis and motor function recovery of spinal cord injury. A–C. The mRNA expressions of NES (nestin, NSCs marker), MAP2 (neuronal differentiation) and GFAP (glial differentiation) from the spinal cord of the SCI mice with NSCs transplantation. D BBB assessment (average score of right and left hind limbs) for hind limb motor function recovery of the SCI mice with NSCs transplantation. The mice with EF pre-stimulated WT NSCs transplantation demonstrated better motor function repairmen than NoEF WT NSCs. Whilst, with the PI3Kγ^−/− NSCs, the effect of EF pre-stimulation was abolished. A group with PBS injection was used as a negative control. E Exemplar photos of SCI mice with EF and NoEF pre-stimulated NSCs transplantation, 28 DAT. The SCI mouse receiving EF pre-stimulated NSCs transplantation showed occasional weight-supported dorsal stepping on right hind limb (left). While the SCI mouse receiving NoEF treated NSCs transplantation showed slight movement of both hind limbs, without any weight-support. * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01 and *** P < 0.001 were considered as significantly different between EF and NoEF groups