Figure 1.

GDNF enhances the proliferation of cultured ISCs. (A) The identity and purity of cultured ISCs was confirmed by immunostaining with an antibody against Sertoli cell-specific vimentin protein. (B-C) BrdU-positive ISCs in control (B) and GDNF treated (C) groups. (D) Quantitative analysis of ISC proliferation as indicated by the percentage of BrdU-positive cells in control and GDNF treated groups. (E) Quantitative analysis of TM4 cell proliferation as indicated by the percentages of BrdU-positive cells in GDNF treated and control groups. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) among groups are indicated by an asterisk. At least three separate experiments were carried out using the ISC and TM4 cells, with 150-200 cells counted in each experiment. Scale bars indicate 10 μm.