Research Article

Angioblast Derived from ES Cells Construct Blood Vessels and Ameliorate Diabetic Polyneuropathy in Mice

Figure 10

Intraepidermal nerve fibers (IENFs) were preserved by angioblast-like cells induced from ES cells (ES-ABs). (a) IENFs in plantar skins were visualized with PGP9.5 antibody (red). After 15 weeks of diabetes, IENF densities were decreased in diabetic mice (upper) and the impairment was restored by ES-ABs transplantation (lower). DM-saline: plantar skin of saline-injected limbs in diabetic mice and DM-ES-AB: plantar skin of limbs transplanted ES-ABs in diabetic mice. White arrowheads: IENFs. (b) Quantification of IENF densities demonstrated that IENFs were significantly decreased in diabetic mice compared with those in normal mice at 12 weeks of diabetes and this decrease was significantly ameliorated by transplantation of ES-ABs. However, administration of ES-ABs did not change IENF densities in normal mice. N: normal mice limbs, DM: diabetic mice limbs, S: saline-injected limbs, AB+: limbs transplanted ES-ABs, and AB−: contralateral limbs transplanted ES-Abs. Results are means ± SD. versus pretreatment N, versus posttreatment S-treated N, and versus posttreatment S-treated DM. -4 in each group.
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