Objective: In order to explore the effects of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSC) transplantation on the treatment of two noncontinuous segments spinal cord compression injury and to investigate whether repeated intravenous injection UCMSC was more beneficial for the recovery of spinal cord function. Methods: A total of 30 adult rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: control group (received PBS), single injection group, repeated injection group with 3 days intervals. A noncontinuous two segments SCI model was established by using the 2F Fogarty balloon catheter. Rabbits were infused with either a single total dose or three divided doses of 2×10(6) UCMSC (3 intervals) at first day post-decompreesion. Behavioral scores, somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) and histopathological were used to evaluate therapeutic effects. The rates of stem cell homing were studied by immunofluorescence test and the apoptosis of the spinal cord was evaluated by TUNEL test. Results: Behavior alanalyses showed that the rabbits in the UCMSC injection groups showed better motor performance than those in the control group (P<0.01), and the motor performance in the repeated transplantation group was better than that in the single transplantation group (P<0.01). The SSEP latencies were (22.53±0.75) ms, (24.52±0.45) ms and (26.31±0.69) ms in the repeated injection group, single injection group and control group (all P<0.01), respectively. Treatment with UCMSC increased ventral horn motor neurons preservation and decreased the number of TUNEL-positive cells compared with control group (P<0.01). The rates of stem cell homing in the repeated injection group was significantly higher than that in single injection group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Transplantation of UCMSC after spinal cord compression injury of two noncontinuous segments can promote functional recovery through enhancement anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective effects, and the recovery was more pronounced in the rabbits repeatedly injected at 3-day intervals.
目的： 探索人脐带间充质干细胞(UCMSC)对双节段非相邻脊髓压迫损伤的治疗作用及多次重复移植是否更有利于脊髓功能恢复。 方法： 成年新西兰大白兔30只，数字随机分为对照组、单次移植组和重复移植组。通过硬膜外置入2F Fogarty球囊导管建立双节段非相邻脊髓压迫模型。在减压后第1天，人脐带间充质干细胞6×10(6)个以3次分剂量(间隔3 d)和1次总剂量分别通过耳缘静脉移植入动物体内，对照组给予等体积磷酸盐缓冲液(PBS)。术后通过行为学评分、体感诱发电位(SSEP)、病理检查评价治疗效果，通过免疫荧光评价干细胞归巢率，TUNEL染色检测脊髓凋亡情况。 结果： 干细胞移植组表现为显著的运动功能提高(P<0.01)，且重复移植组要优于单次移植组(P<0.01)。重复移植组动物潜伏期为(22.53±0.75) ms，单次移植组动物潜伏期为(24.42±0.45) ms，对照组为(26.31±0.69 )ms，单次和重复移植组潜伏期与对照组差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)，单次和重复移植组差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。移植组前脚运动神经元量高于对照组，凋亡阳性细胞数低于对照组(P<0.01)。重复移植组干细胞归巢率明显高于单次移植组(P<0.01)。 结论： 人脐带间充质干细胞移植可通过保护神经元、抑制凋亡作用有效提高兔双节段脊髓压迫损伤功能，并且多次重复移植较单次移植更有利于功能恢复。.
Keywords: Homing rates; Mesenchymal stem cells; Somatosensory evoked potentials; Spinal cord compression injury; Vein transplantation.