Histological analyses.

<p>Histological analyses on longitudinal sections were performed for neurofilament (<b>A</b>), GFAP (<b>G</b>), Neurocan (<b>M</b>) and ED1 (<b>T</b>). These analyses reveal that Primary OB, Purified OB and Purified OM OECs increase axonal regrowth (neurofilament) (<b>A</b>), reduce astrocyte reactivity (GFAP) (<b>G</b>) and glial scar formation (Neurocan) (<b>M</b>). At the same time this analysis reveals that OECs transplantations had no influence on monocytes/microglia infiltration (ED1) (<b>T</b>). Typical illustrations, are shown for each group for neurofilament (<b>B–F</b>), GFAP (<b>H–L</b>), neurocan (<b>O–L</b>) and ED1 (<b>U–Y</b>). Md: Medium, OB: Olfactory Bulb, OM: Olfactory Mucosa. Statistical comparisons were performed using a nonparametric test (Kruskal-Wallis). Mean±SEM represents data from 10 rats per group. *: p value<0.05; **: p value<0.01 and ***: p value<0.001.</p

Analysis of electrophysiological activities.

<p>Measurement of cord dorsum potentials (<b>A–C</b>) shows that transplantation of OECs leads to increase potential amplitude from all OECs treated groups at all-time points studied (<b>A–C</b>). Md: Medium, OB: Olfactory Bulb, OM: Olfactory Mucosa. Statistical comparisons were performed using a nonparametric test (Kruskal-Wallis). Mean±SEM represents data from 10 rats per group. *: p value<0.05.</p

Experimental paradigm illustrating the timeline of the major experimental manipulations.

<p>Cells or medium were transplanted into sectioned spinal cords (<b>D0</b>). 15, 30 and 60 days after surgery animals were analyzed for electrophysiological and locomotor activities (<b>D15</b>, <b>D30</b>, <b>D60</b>). Histological analyses were performed 60 days after transplantation for all the groups (<b>D60</b>) (n = 10). On additional animals of OM-purified OECs tracking of GFP+ cells were performed 30 and 60 after transplantation (<b>D30</b>, <b>D60</b>). Each time point (n = 3) (<u>in green</u>).</p

Catwalk analysis.

<p>Catwalk analysis reveals that Primary OB, Purified OB and Purified OM animals show a significant higher probability to walk (based of the higher rate of runs succeed). Percentage (%) is based on run succeed or failed during all the time points. Total number of runs succeed and failed are presented for each group. Md: Medium, OB: Olfactory Bulb, OM: Olfactory Mucosa. Statistical comparisons were performed using a Fisher’s exact test.</p>*<p>: p value<0.05;</p>**<p>: p value<0.01,</p>***<p>: p value<0.001 and #: p value<0.05.</p>*<p>represents significant differences between transplanted groups (Primary OB, Purified OB and Purified OM) and Md group.</p>#<p>represents significant difference between Purified OM and Md groups.</p

Tracking of GFP+ OM-OECs.

<p>Tracking of GFP+ OM-OECs performed on longitudinal sections revealed that 30 (<b>A–C</b>) and 60 (<b>D–F</b>) days after transplantation, OECs could be found at the injury site (<b>B and E</b>) and both proximally (<b>A and D</b>) and distally (<b>C and F</b>) to the injection site. White arrows represent the lesion site. GFP/neurofilament co-staining shows that OECs are closely associated to neurofilament+ fibers (<b>G–I2</b>), 30 and 60 days after surgery. Scale bar = 100 µm. WH = White Matter and GH = Grey matter. Illustrations are representative of three different animals for each time point.</p

Analysis of locomotor activities.

<p><b>A–C</b>: horizontal activity <b>D–F</b>: vertical activity and <b>G–I:</b> vertical time. Measurement of locomotor activity (<b>A–C</b>) reveals that there is no significant difference between the groups for horizontal activity at all-time points. This analyses shows that transplantation of Primary OB and Purified OM improve vertical activity (<b>F</b>) and vertical time (<b>I</b>) at 60 days. Md: Medium, OB: Olfactory Bulb, OM: Olfactory Mucosa. Statistical comparisons were performed using a nonparametric test (Kruskal-Wallis). Mean±SEM represents data from 10 rats per group. *: p value<0.05.</p