The Morphofunctional Effect of the Transplantation of Bone Marrow Stromal Cells and Predegenerated Peripheral Nerve in Chronic Paraplegic Rat Model via Spinal Cord Transection

Neural Plast. 2015:2015:389520. doi: 10.1155/2015/389520. Epub 2015 Nov 8.

Abstract

Functional recovery following spinal cord injury (SCI) is limited by poor axonal and cellular regeneration as well as the failure to replace damaged myelin. Employed separately, both the transplantation of the predegenerated peripheral nerve (PPN) and the transplantation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) have been shown to promote the regrowth and remyelination of the damaged central axons in SCI models of hemisection, transection, and contusion injury. With the aim to test the effects of the combined transplantation of PPN and BMSC on regrowth, remyelination, and locomotor function in an adult rat model of spinal cord (SC) transection, 39 Fischer 344 rats underwent SC transection at T9 level. Four weeks later they were randomly assigned to traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) without treatment, TSCI + Fibrin Glue (FG), TSCI + FG + PPN, and TSCI + FG + PPN + BMSCs. Eight weeks after, transplantation was carried out on immunofluorescence and electron microscope studies. The results showed greater axonal regrowth and remyelination in experimental groups TSCI + FG + PPN and TSCI + FG + PPN + BMSCs analyzed with GAP-43, neuritin, and myelin basic protein. It is concluded that the combined treatment of PPN and BMSCs is a favorable strategy for axonal regrowth and remyelination in a chronic SC transection model.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / methods*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Connexin 43 / biosynthesis
  • Connexin 43 / genetics
  • GPI-Linked Proteins / biosynthesis
  • GPI-Linked Proteins / genetics
  • Locomotion
  • Myelin Sheath / metabolism
  • Myelin Sheath / ultrastructure
  • Nerve Degeneration
  • Nerve Regeneration
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Paraplegia / therapy*
  • Peripheral Nerves / transplantation*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred F344
  • Recovery of Function
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / therapy*

Substances

  • Connexin 43
  • GJA1 protein, mouse
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nrn1 protein, mouse