Figure 3. Immunohistochemical staining of bFGF and MMP-9 in BMSSC transplants. (A) BMSSC transplants showed that some cells were immunopositive for bFGF antibody staining (black arrows) in the connective tissue compartment (CT) surrounding the HA/TCP (HA) at 2 wks post-transplantation. (B) After 4 wks’ BMSSC transplantation, along with new bone (B) formation, the number of bFGF-positive cells (black arrows) was increased in the connective tissue compartment (CT). (C) After 8 wks’ BMSSC transplantation, the connective tissue (CT) showed a high-level expression of bFGF (black arrows). Newly formed hematopoietic marrow showed a negative staining for bFGF antibody staining. The interface between the hematopoietic marrow and connective tissue is indicated (yellow dashed line). (D) When hematopoietic marrow (HM) completely replaced the connective tissue at 16 wks post-transplantation, a very limited number of cells expressed bFGF in BMSSC transplants. (E) BMSSC transplant showed a negative staining for MMP9 antibody at 2 wks post-transplantation. (F) After 4 wks’ transplantation, MMP9 was expressed in the connective tissue compartment of BMSSC transplants (open arrows). (G and H) DPSC transplants showed a negative staining of bFGF prior to dentin regeneration at 2 wks post-transplantation (G) and after dentin formation at 8 wks post-transplantation (H). (I and J) VEGF was equally expressed on blood vessels of BMSSC (I) and DPSC (J) transplants at 4 wks post-transplantation (black arrows). The black dashed lines represent interfaces between HA/TCP and newly formed bone (I) or dentin (J). Bar, 20 µm.