One-month survival of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) nervous tissue constructs in injured spinal cord. Transplanted neurons and axons are visualized by labeling with anti-BDA, anti-CGRP, and anti-NF200 antibodies. The stained cells were found sandwiched between the two layers of the collagen-based hydrogel within the spinal cord injury cavity. Triple labeling with anti-CGRP, anti-NF200 antibodies, and Cell Tracker verified survival of the transplanted elongated cultures, demonstrating DRG neuron clusters and associated axon bundles at the distal and proximal ends of the spinal cord injury cavity.

Image Credit: Douglas H. Smith, MD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine