Subcutaneous administration of EPO+G-CSF enhanced the proliferation, differentiation and migration of stem cells in rats and mice.

<p>At one week after cerebral ischemia, BrdU immunoreactive cells were detected in the ipsilateral cortex near the infarct boundary (A-C, arrows), the subventricular area (D-F, arrows), and around blood vessels (G-I, arrows). (J) Numbers of BrdU immunoreactive cells were measured in the ipsilateral hemisphere of rats' brains treated with EPO+G-CSF (E+G), EPO (E), G-CSF (G) or controls (C). (K) GFP⁺c-Kit⁺ bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) in the peri-infarct and striatal areas (white arrows) were analyzed in transgenic GFP-chimeric mice treated with EPO+G-CSF (E+G), EPO (E), G-CSF (G) or controls. (L) In double immunofluorescent analysis (3D image), many GFP⁺ cells colocalized with specific markers GFAP, Neu-N, Musashi-1 and MAP-2. (M) Nestin-EGFP⁺ INPCs (white arrows) were stained for Ki67 in the penumbral region of nestin-EGFP mice treated with EPO+G-CSF (E+G), EPO (E), G-CSF (G) or controls. (N) Nestin-EGFP⁺-Ki67⁺ cells also co-localized with specific markers MAP-2, GFAP, and Neu-N. Mean ± SEM, *<i>P</i><0.05 and **<i>P</i><0.01 vs. control. Bar = 50 µm.