FIGURE 7

DASPEI-positive cells in the uninjured fin do not display a HCS-like distribution pattern. (A–C) Live imaging of DASPEI-stained (green) uninjured fins. (A,A’) Image of a fin around the first bifurcation level. No specific pattern of DASPEI-positive cells is observed around the bifurcation. (B) The same image as shown in panel (A) with a white dot projections of DASPEI-positive cells. Larger DASPEI-positive bundels aligned between the rays are neuromasts (yellow circles). (C) Image of a fin in the proximal region of the fin with white dots projected over solitary DASPEI-positive cells. DASPEI-positive neuromasts are clearly visible (yellow circle). (D) Quantification of overall density of DASPEI-positive solitary cells per mm² in the fins. Overall density was 42 ± 15 cells per mm², much lower that the overall density of HCS-cells. (E) Density pattern around bifurcation areas quantified according to the areas highlighted in Figure 6C. Density of DASPEI-positive cells in the PI was not significantly different from the density in the BI (87 ± 35 vs. 104 ± 61 cells per mm²). N = 5.