Rat model of anal sphincter injury and two approaches for stem cell administration

Figure 7 Immunolocalization of ASCs at surgical site. Cell nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue), ASCs with eGFP (green), and muscle with α-actin (red). On injected animals, ASCs tended to form “conglomerates” in the submucosa and were able to survive at least 7 d (A: G1 group rat sacrificed at 7 d). ASCs appeared in injury foci, even though they were deposited at some distance (e.g., in “conglomerates”): In muscle section margins (B: G2 sacrificed at 7 d and C: G1 sacrificed at 1 d). In the biosuture group, ACSs also surround the suture (D: G2 sacrificed at 4 d). ASCs also appeared in the tissue that filled the space between muscle section margins (E: G3 group rat sacrificed at 4 d and F: G1 group rat sacrificed at 7 d). ASC: Adipose-derived stem cell; eGFP: Enhanced green fluorescent protein.