Figure 3

Neurogenic differentiation of PB-MSCs. Phase contrast micrograph of ovine PB-MSCs at passage 3 cultured on basal and neurogenic medium for 3 days. Control cells (A) showed a fibroblast-like shape whereas differentiated cells (B) displayed neuronal-like features such as phase-bright bodies, long multipolar extensions and branching ends (C: higher magnification). Increase of the expression levels of neurogenic markers after 3 (white bars) and 6 (grey bars) days of induction relative to the levels observed in cells cultured on basal medium (values set to 1, horizontal line) as assessed by real time PCR. Data are shown as mean ± standard errors. Statistically significant differences between differentiated and control cells were determined by Student t test (▪ P < 0.10, *** P < 0.001).