Figure 5

Axonal staining at the lesion site of Schwann cell, OEG and medium groups. Immunoreactivity for RT-97 at the site of spinal cord contusion 4 months after medium (A) OEG (B-C) and Schwann cells (D-E) transplantation. RT97 positive axons are observed within the lesion site in all groups but number and distribution varied. Axons in the OEG group (B) were arranged in fascicular bundles but did not have rostral to caudal orientation unlike axons beneath the graft area which constitute the ventral white matter. See (C) for higher power image of (B). RT97 staining after Schwann cell transplantation (see D ). These axons showed a close association with DsRed-2 positive cells but followed a non linear path. Arrows in (E) depict DsRed-2 labeled Schwann cells deep within the transplants or close to microcysts (*). Scale bars: 100 μm. Scale bar in D also serves A and B scale bar in E also serves C.