Fig. 1

NSCs were activated and migrated to the injured area after SCI, and most of the migrated NSCs differentiated into astrocytes. A Construction of Nestin-CreER^T2-Rosa26-STOP-tdTomato mice (NSCs lineage-traced mice). B The administration method of tamoxifen. C Immunofluorescence identification of NSCs (tdTomato, red) of spinal cord in NSCs lineage-traced mice. Scale bar, 20 μm. D Immunofluorescence analysis of the migration of NSCs (tdTomato, red) after SCI in NSCs lineage-traced mice, Scale bar, 100 μm. E Statistical analysis of the distance from tdTomato⁺ cells to the center of injury (mm) in figure D, n = 6 per group. F Immunofluorescence analysis of the differentiation of endogenous NSCs in NSCs lineage-traced mice at 14 and 28 days after SCI. NeuN is a neuronal marker and GFAP is a astrocytic marker. Scale bar, 100 μm and 40 μm. G, H Statistical analysis of the ratio of NeuN⁺tdTomato⁺ cells to tdTomato⁺ cells and the ratio of GFAP⁺tdTomato⁺ cells to tdTomato⁺ cells in figure F, n = 6 per group. ^nsP > 0.05, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, compared with corresponding control group