D-galactose-induced aging model and animal experiments

A total of 30 male 6-week-old nude mice (20–22 g) were provided by the Harbin Medical University Heilongjiang Experimental Animal Center. Mice were housed and 22–24°C, 55–60% humidity with access to food and water ad libitum. Mice were randomly divided into three groups (n=10 in each group): Control, model and fullerenol groups. The model and fullerenol groups of mice were administered 1,000 mg/kg D-galactose (Sigma-Aldrich; Merck KGaA) by subcutaneous injection. Following 2 weeks of acclimation, the control and model groups were administered PBS by subcutaneous injection. The fullerenol group mice were administered a subcutaneous injection of 10⁶ GFP-expressing ADSCs and 100 mg/kg fullerenol (Sigma-Aldrich; Merck KGaA), as previously described (10). Following 3 weeks of treatment, mice were sacrificed by decapitation under 30 mg/kg of pentobarbital. Skin was immediately harvested washed and stored at −80°C.