Fig. 1

CM-MSC proliferative and morphological characteristics under normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic conditions. a Cumulative population doubling (PDs) of CB-MSCs showed rapid expansion from 10PDs (70–80 days) onwards, with high (25 mM) glucose conditions (dotted line), promoting more rapid CB-MSC proliferation rates from 50PDs (~ 120 days) to >300PDs (~ 350 days), versus normal (5.5 mM) glucose levels (solid line). b CB-MSC morphologies at PD15, PD50, PD100 and PD200 under normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic conditions, demonstrated morphological changes with culture expansion, but few changes due to high (25 mM) glucose conditions. c Quantification of CB-MSC surface areas at PD15, PD50, PD100 and PD200 under normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic conditions, confirmed limited influences of high (25 mM) glucose conditions on CB-MSC morphologies, versus normal (5.5 mM) glucose levels, except at PD100 and PD200. Significance between CB-MSC populations are shown, ***p < 0.001, **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05. Scale bar = 100 μm