Fig. 9

EC-EXO promoted nerve regeneration by activating PI3K/AKT/PTEN signaling pathways. A The expression levels of biomarkers of PI3K/AKT/PTEN pathway (PI3K, p-PI3K, AKT, p-AKT and PTEN) in sciatic nerves in different experimental groups were detected by western blot 28 days following the operation. B Statistical analysis of western blot results. The data are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 3). Representative images of PI3K/p-PI3K/GAPDH (C), AKT/p-AKT/GAPDH (E) and PTEN/GAPDH (G) multiple fluorescence staining of sciatic nerve at 28 days following the operation. Nuclei were stained with DAPI. Scale bar, 20 μm. The statistical results of percentages of positive PI3K/p-PI3K/GAPDH staining (D), percentages of positive AKT/p-AKT/GAPDH (F) and percentages of positive PTEN/GAPDH staining (H). The data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 3). ns = not significant, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001