Immunofluorescence microscopy images of OL-like cells derived from hUCM-MSCs in co-culture with mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons.

<p>The co-cultures were stained using an anti-human Golgi antibody (green) to specifically identify the human cells (OL-like cells derived form MSCs) and an anti-beta-III-tubulin antibody (red) to label the mouse DRG neurons. The images acquired in the green channel (anti-human Golgi antibody) were deliberately slightly overexposed to allow for a better understanding of the cellular morphology, which did not affect the identification of human versus mouse cells, as evidenced by the lack of green signal in the mouse DRG neurons (in red). Counterstaining of the nuclei was performed using DAPI (blue). It was apparent that the OL-like cells and DRG neurons tend to cluster together, as illustrated in a lower magnification image (<i>A</i>). Higher magnification images (<i>B-D</i>) suggest the existence of contact points (arrows) between branches of OL-like cells displaying an immature oligodendrocyte-like morphology (asterisks) and neurites. Scale bars correspond to 50 µm (<i>A</i>) or 20 µm (<i>B-D</i>).