Induction of Functional Recovery by Co-transplantation of Neural Stem Cells and Schwann Cells in a Rat Spinal Cord Contusion Injury Model
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Key words:
- Spinal cord injury /
- Transplantation /
- Neural stem cells /
- Schwann cells /
- Cell differentiation
Abstract: Objeetive To smdy the transplantation efficacy of neural stem cells(NSCs)and Schwann cells(SC)in a rat model of spinal cord contusion injury.Methods Multipotent neural stem cells(NSCs)and Schwann cells were harvested from the spinal cords of embryomc rats at 16 days post coitus and sciatic nerves of newborn rats,respectively.The differential characteristics of NSCs in vitro induced by either serunl-based culture or co-culture with SC were analyzed by immunofluorescence.NSCs and SCs were co-transplanted into adult rats having undergone spinal cord contusion at T9 level.The animals were weekly monitored using the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan locomotor rating system to evaluate functional recovery from contusion-induced spinal cord injury.Migration and differentiation of transplanted NSCs were studied in tissue sections using immunohistochemical staining.Results Embryomc spinal cord-derived NSCs differentiated into a large number of oligodendrocytes in serum-based culture upon the withdrawal of mitogens.In cocultures with SCs,NSCs differentiated into neuron more readily.Rats with spinal cord contusion injury which had undergone transplantation of NSCs and SCs into the intraspinal cavity demonstrated a moderate improvement in momr functions.Conclusions SC may contribute to neuronal differentiation of NSCs in vitro and in vivo.Transplantation of NSCs and SCs into the affected area may be a feasible approach to promoting motor recovery in patients after spinal cordin jury.
Citation: | JIN LI, CHONG-RAN SUN, HAN ZHANG, KAM-SZE TSANG, JUN-HUA LI, SHAO-DONG ZHANG, YI-HUA AN. Induction of Functional Recovery by Co-transplantation of Neural Stem Cells and Schwann Cells in a Rat Spinal Cord Contusion Injury Model[J]. Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, 2007, 20(3): 242-249. |