BM-derived CD45^– can be isolated and expanded from pancreatic islets. (A) Staining for Sca-1 and GFP of cells found outside isolated islets after 7 days of culture. Results (mean) of cell counting are expressed as percent of the GFP⁺ cells. (B) Alizarin red staining for detecting osteogenic differentiation of BM-derived GFP⁺ cells isolated and expanded from pancreatic islet. Isolated islets were cultured in standard conditions for 1 week, and after 3 weeks of osteogenesis conditions were stained by alizarin red. A representative field photographed under an inverted microscope. (Top) Fluorescence image. (Bottom) Phase contrast. The arrows point to the GFP⁺ cells localized around the islet that are confirmed to be osteoblasts by alizarin red.