Detection of EGFP⁺ cells in recipient livers after transplantation.

<p>EGFP⁺ cells from male donors were injected into liver-injured female mice. (A) After transplantation of stem cells, the EGFP fluorescence in the lung, liver, spleen and kidney was examined using bio- imaging system. A luminescent image from red (least intense) to yellow (most intense) represents the spatial distribution of the detected photons emitted from EGFP⁺ cells within the organs. The EGFP signal was not detected in the control mice. (B) Average radiance was quantified in the liver after stem cells transplantation. (C) PCR-based detection of donor-derived cells in the livers of different recipients. (D and E) Liver sections were stained with DAPI, and the distribution of EGFP⁺ cells in the portal lobe was quantified in the different groups at 4 weeks. White arrows show the stem cells in the sinusoids (i, MSCs group; ii, HSCs group; and iii, MSCs+HSCs group). (F and G) FACS analyses of CXCR4 expression on MSCs and HSCs. (H) mRNA levels of CXCR4 on MSCs and HSCs. <i>P</i><0.05, n = 3.