Fig. 7
MiR-140-3p promotes bone formation in DM rats with bone defects. A Representative micro-CT images within a region of interest (ROI) comprising the bone defect after 2 and 8 weeks following surgery in the bone defect of normal rats and those with diabetes mellitus after treatment with N-Exos, DM-Exos, and Exos overexpressing miR-140-3p. n = 5 in each group. B Quantitative analysis of new bone formation from micro-CT imaging in DM rats with bone defects after 2 and 8 weeks after transplantation with N-Exos, DM-Exos, or Exos overexpressing miR-140-3p. BV: bone volume; TV: tissue volume; Tb,N: trabecular number; Tb.Th: trabecular thickness; Tb.Sp: trabecular Spacing. n = 5 in each group. C–E Histological analysis of decalcified sections of bone defects in diabetic rats treated with N-Exos, DM-Exos, or Exos overexpressing miR-140-3p. HE/Masson’s/Safranin O/fast green staining of the new bone formation within the defect. Black arrows indicate new bone stained in light pink/blue/green within the 3 mm-diameter defect marked as a circle. Quantitative analysis of new bone formation was performed using ImageJ software. n = 5 in each group. F–H Immunohistological analysis of osteoblasts and BMSCs in diabetic rats treated with N-Exos, DM-Exos, or Exos overexpressing miR-140-3p. Collagen-1 and CD29/Sca-1 staining of osteoblasts and BMSCs in sections containing the bone defect. Black arrows indicate osteoblasts and BMSCs on the bone surface. n = 5 in each group; *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001. Data represent means ± SD