Page 149 - Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The Wharton's Jelly Is an Ideal Source of Stem Cells

Fig 1. (A) (a-d) In situ H & E histological cross-sections of the human umbilical cord showing the various
regions [Wharton’s jelly (WJ), perivascular area (PV), subamnion (SA), amnion (AM)] from which MSCs were
derived. Note individual MSCs (hWJSCs) lying in gelatinous matrix of WJ. (B) Histogram showing
significantly greater numbers of MSCs (hWJSCs) in the WJ in primary culture compared to PV, SA, AM and
mixed cord cultures (MC) (*p<0.05).
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0127992.g001

subamnion (SA), Wharton’s jelly (WJ) (in which lied two arteries and a vein) around which
were thin perivascular areas (PV) (Fig 1Aa-d). The AM and SA were tightly attached to each
other requiring enzymatic manipulation and culture for cell isolation. The intervascular WJ re-
gion was a gelatinous matrix occupying the largest area and volume of the UC. Large numbers
of individual cells with a stellate morphology could be seen lying within the WJ matrix that

PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0127992 June 10, 2015 8/25