Transplantation of Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth Decreases Cognitive Impairment from Chronic Cerebral Ischemia by Reducing Neuronal Apoptosis in Rats

Figure 4

SHED transplantation enhanced neuronal function via inhibiting neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampal CA1 region of CCI rats. (a, c) HE staining showed that the number of neurons was decreased in the ischemia group, while SHED transplantation mitigated the neuronal loss (). Scale bar: 50 μm. (b, d) TUNEL staining showed that TUNEL-positive neurons were present at significantly greater proportions in the ischemia group, while SHED transplantation decreased the proportion of apoptotic neurons (). Scale bar: 50 μm. (e–g) Western blot analysis showed that the expression levels of caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3 were markedly increased in the hippocampal tissue of the ischemia group, while SHED transplantation decreased the expression levels of caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3. Error bars: the . , compared to the ischemia group. (h–j) Western blotting analysis showed that the expression level of postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) and synaptophysin (SYN) was markedly decreased in the hippocampal tissues of the ischemia group, while SHED transplantation increased the expression levels of PSD95 and SYN. Error bars: . compared to the ischemia group.