大鼠脊髓损伤后PLGA支架细胞髓内移植的组织学观察

目的 观察神经干细胞(NSC)、许旺细胞(SCs)和组织工程材料乙交酯-丙交酯共聚物(PLGA)大鼠髓内共移植后的病理形态学改变.方法 36只Wistar大鼠,随机分为PLGA移植组、NSC/PLGA组和NSC+SCs/PLGA组.体外培养、鉴定胚胎脊髓源NSC和SCs,制备和构建PLGA支架细胞复合体并移植到大鼠脊髓Tq半横断损伤部位,应用HE染色、电镜和免疫组织化学染色方法在形态结构上观察材料的组织相容性、轴突髓鞘再生及NSC在脊髓内的存活、迁移和分化情况.结果 HE染色观察损伤12周时移植材料内可见细胞生长及新生的毛细血管;扫描电镜观察随着时间的延长,PLGA逐渐降解;材料正中横断面透射电镜观察可见新牛的无髓及有髓神经纤维;脊髓标本免疫组织化学染色可见移植的NSC可以在宿主脊髓内存活、迁移并分化成类神经元样细胞和少枝胶质细胞,未分化成星形胶质细胞.结论 NSC、SCs和PLGA共移植可以在形态学上促进大鼠脊髓半横断损伤的修复.     

局部注射骨髓间充质干细胞治疗大鼠脊髓损伤：运动功能有改善吗？

背景：目前研究多为骨髓间充质干细胞的体外培养及细胞移植对颅内疾病的治疗,对植入细胞在损伤脊髓中的成活、分化、迁移、结构重建等了解有限。 目的：探讨局部骨髓间充质干细胞移植在脊髓损伤修复中的作用和骨髓间充质干细胞替代治疗的可行性。 方法：成年健康雌性SD大鼠随机分为细胞移植组和对照组,建立SD大鼠脊髓横断损伤模型,伤后即刻分别向损伤区局部移植大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞悬液或无钙镁磷酸缓冲液。在术前和术后1 d,1周,2周,3周,4周和8周进行BBB评分,观测大鼠的运动功能,并于移植后1周免疫组织化学染色法观察BrdU标记的骨髓间充质干细胞在脊髓损伤处的存活情况,移植后4周进行损伤脊髓的大体观察和组织学检测。 结果与结论：移植后第1~8周细胞移植组BBB评分均髙于对照组;术后1周免疫组织化学染色结果显示在细胞移植组大鼠脊髓远端检测到BrdU阳性细胞,术后4周脊髓损伤处发现有神经纤维。证实通过损伤后立即局部注射的方式将骨髓间充质干细胞移植进大鼠脊髓损伤区,细胞可在损伤区存活;存活的骨髓间充质干细胞可分化为神经元,在损伤局部形成神经元通路,从而促进脊髓神经纤维传导功能的恢复,并促进高位脊髓损伤后大鼠后肢运动功能恢复。     

组织工程周围神经修复坐骨神经缺损应用研究

目的应用组织工程方法构建周围神经以修复坐骨神经缺损.方法体外培养的雪旺细胞(SC)与牛去细胞基质(BAM)、胎牛血清和培养液按一定的比例混合注入聚乳酸聚羟基己酸共聚物(PLGA)导管中,构建成组织工程周围神经.30只SD大鼠随机分为3组,实验组:使用组织工程周围神经修复坐骨神经缺损;对照组:用不含雪旺细胞的导管修复;自体神经组:自体神经移植.16周后通过免疫组化、电生理、透射电镜、辣根过氧化物酶(HRP)逆行示踪及坐骨神经功能指数(SFI)等方法检测神经再生及坐骨神经功能恢复情况.结果 PLGA导管至16周已基本吸收,再生神经已通过缺损区长至远端,组织工程周围神经的修复效果接近自体神经组,优于空白组.结论体外构建的组织工程周围神经可以修复周围神经缺损.     

miRNA-9修饰骨髓间充质干细胞治疗大鼠脊髓损伤的实验研究

目的 通过观察miRNA-9在骨髓间充质干细胞(MSCs)分化为神经元过程中的作用,探讨基因修饰在脊髓损伤治疗中的作用.方法 分离培养大鼠MSCs并构建miRNA-9-1慢病毒载体.成功建立84只大鼠急性脊髓损伤模型,并按照随机数字表法分为对照组、MSCs组及miRNA组,每组28只.脊髓损伤后1周,对MSCs组大鼠进行MSCs移植,对miRNA组大鼠移植miRNA-9-1慢病毒载体感染的MSCs,对照组大鼠仅在损伤部位注射等量的生理盐水.选择不同时间点对大鼠后肢进行Basso Beattie Bresnahan(BBB)评分,并行神经丝蛋白200(NF-200)和胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)免疫组织化学染色,对各组阳性表达面积百分比进行比较.结果 细胞移植4周后,各组大鼠BBB评分差异有统计学意义,其中miRNA组评分较MSCs组及对照组明显提高,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).免疫组织化学染色示miRNA组的NF-200阳性面积较MSCs组及对照组明显增大,GFAP阳性面积较MSCs组及对照组明显减小,各组间的差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 miRNA-9在MSCs横向分化为神经元中起重要调控作用,并通过促进轴突再生,减少脊髓损伤部位反应性胶质细胞的数量等机制促进脊髓损伤后的功能修复.     

嗅鞘细胞移植损伤脊髓组织的超微结构变化

背景：脊髓损伤后神经功能难以自行恢复,嗅鞘细胞具有外周性和中枢性两种胶质细胞的成鞘功能,是修复受损神经最有前途的种子细胞。嗅鞘细胞移植到受损脊髓后的组织学和超微结构的变化可能帮助解释嗅鞘细胞发挥修复作用的机制。 目的: 验证嗅球源性嗅鞘细胞移植对脊髓损伤功能恢复的促进作用,并观察移植的嗅鞘细胞对神经元和轴突组织和超微结构的影响。 方法：将已制备脊髓模型的Wistar大鼠随机分为3组,对照组不做任何注射操作,DMEM/F12组注射DMEM/F12培养基,嗅鞘细胞组注射嗅鞘细胞悬液。每周进行肢体活动BBB评分,8周后取脊髓标本进行组织学和免疫组织化学观察,评价脊髓损伤的修复情况,并观察嗅鞘细胞移植对脊髓组织和超微结构的影响。 结果与结论：3组动物均出现后肢运动功能的恢复,嗅鞘细胞组优于对照组和DMEM/F12组,在4周后更为明显。组织学观察可见,在嗅鞘细胞组可见有神经纤维通过损伤处。损伤处附近,嗅鞘细胞组脊髓腹侧的神经纤维和神经元形态较好,损伤较轻。而对照组和DMEM/F12组神经纤维和神经元损害严重。嗅鞘细胞组的caspsase-3阳性细胞数少于对照组和DMEM/F12组。超微结构观察可见,嗅鞘细胞组的神经纤维和细胞形态均优于对照组和DMEM/F12组。结果表明嗅鞘细胞移植对大鼠脊髓损伤修复有明显的促进作用,并可恢复损伤神经的部分功能,对受损神经纤维和神经元有保护作用。     

神经干细胞移植治疗脊髓损伤

目的:探讨神经干细胞移植对脊髓损伤大鼠后肢运动功能修复的影响。方法:SD大鼠36只,制成T10脊髓全横断损伤模型。于造模成功后1周采用局部微量注射法移植。随机分三组：A损伤对照组（n=12）仅打开椎管暴露脊髓;B移植对照组（n=12）：注射10μl DMEM/F12培养液;C细胞移植组（n=12）：移植1.0?06/ml的神经干细胞悬液10μl。移植后通过不同时间点BBB行为评分、病理组织学、免疫荧光技术评价大鼠大鼠脊髓功能修复情况及移植细胞在体内的存活、迁移、分化。 结果:在体外成功建立SD大鼠海马源性神经干细胞培养体系;B、C两组大鼠随着时间延长BBB评分均不同程度提高,从移植后2W起C组大鼠评分明显高于B组,两组比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;神经干细胞移植后能够在体内继续存活、迁移并且分化为NF-200、GFAP表达阳性的神经元及星形胶质细胞。 结论:神经干细胞移植治疗脊髓损伤是一种有效的方法。     

大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞静脉移植对脊髓损伤的修复作用

目的初步探讨骨髓间充质干细胞（BMSCs）静脉移植对脊髓损伤后神经功能恢复和神经修复的影响。方法体外培养BMSCs，改良Allen法制备大鼠脊髓损伤模型，经尾静脉移植Brdu标记的BMSCs，损伤后24h、移植后1、3、5周评价实验动物的神经功能状况，并检测BMSCs在体内迁移、存活以及分化情况，电子显微镜观察组织形态学变化。结果移植的BMSCs在宿主损伤脊髓中聚集并存活，3～5周后有部分移植细胞表达神经元特异性烯醇化酶（NSE）、神经丝蛋白（NF）、微管相关蛋白（MAP2）；BMSCs静脉移植组大鼠运动功能改善，BBB评分高于对照组（P〈0．05）；5周后组织学观察，与对照组相比移植组损伤区脊髓结构较完整。结论BMSCs经静脉移植后可向脊髓损伤处聚集并存活分化，促进神经修复及神经功能的恢复。     

不同来源成体神经干细胞促进大鼠脊髓损伤功能修复的比较研究

目的 评价大脑、骨髓和脂肪组织3种不同来源的神经干细胞对大鼠脊髓挫伤的治疗效果.方法 选取来源于同一大鼠成体中大脑、骨髓和脂肪的3个部位的组织,分离、诱导分化为不同来源的神经干细胞;应用自由落体损伤模型装置造成大鼠脊髓挫伤.将不同来源的神经干细胞分别移植入大鼠脊髓损伤部位,通过BBB评分比较修复脊髓损伤功能的效果,应用免疫荧光染色检测不同移植细胞在损伤脊髓中的存活、分布、迁移的情况.另设假手术对照组和生理盐水对照组.结果 与假手术对照组和生理盐水对照组比较,3个细胞处理组BBB评分在2～8周开始增加,9周以后更加明显,差异开始有统计学意义(P<0.05).在移植后1周和4周,细胞移植组中脑源性神经干细胞(SVZ-NSs)组Brdu/nestin+>神经元存活的数目明显高于其他2组.但差异没有统计学意义(P>0.05);到了第8周,3组均仅有少量Brdu/nestin+>细胞存活,相互之间比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论 植入来源于大脑、骨髓和脂肪组织的神经干细胞都可以在一定程度上提高脊髓损伤后运动功能恢复,但SVZ-NSs组的脊髓损伤大鼠运动功能恢复要比脂肪来源的神经干细胞(AD-NSs)组及骨髓来源的神经干细胞(BM-NSs)组更好.AD-NSs由于来源广泛和强有力的增殖能力,相比其他来源的神经干细胞,可能是更好的选择.     

体外转染绿色荧光蛋白基因的肌源性干细胞移植修复大鼠脊髓损伤

背景：肌源性干细胞易于提取、分离及扩增,在特定条件下可分化为骨、软骨、肌肉等中胚层组织细胞,还可以跨胚层分化为神经细胞等,是组织工程临床用于脊髓损伤修复的理想种子细胞。 目的：观察肌源性干细胞移植对脊髓半切损伤大鼠运动功能的修复作用。 方法：40只成年SD大鼠随机数字表法分为移植组和对照组,每组20只。均进行脊髓半切损伤,伤后9 d,移植组于伤处移植体外转染绿色荧光蛋白基因的大鼠肌源性干细胞,而对照组仅注射等量PBS,于移植后1,2,3,4周用斜板实验和BBB评分测大鼠的运动功能,同时进行损伤脊髓取材、快速冰冻切片进行荧光显微镜观察。 结果与结论：所有大鼠脊髓半切损伤手术均成功,术后无动物死亡。肌源性干细胞移植后1周,移植组与对照组均有所恢复,斜板实验和BBB评分差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05);2~4周移植组恢复明显较好,斜板实验和BBB评分显著高于对照组(P < 0.05),移植组后肢活动与前后肢活动的协调性明显优于对照组。荧光显微镜观察经诱导分化和基因标记的肌源性干细胞在损伤脊髓组织局部生长良好,并且有沿着脊髓神经束向头尾两侧迁移的趋势。提示脊髓半切损伤大鼠经肌源性干细胞移植后能在损伤脊髓组织局部长期存活并明显改善其运动功能,肌源性干细胞移植对脊髓半切损伤大鼠有修复作用。 关键词：肌源性干细胞;移植;脊髓损伤;绿色荧光蛋白;大鼠     

法舒地尔与骨髓间充质干细胞移植治疗大鼠脊髓损伤：有协同效应吗？

背景：研究证实，Rho激酶抑制剂法舒地尔可以有效阻断继发性脊髓损伤过程。 目的：观察法舒地尔对骨髓间充质干细胞移植治疗脊髓损伤大鼠运动功能恢复的影响。 设计、时间及地点：随机对照动物实验，于2008-11/2009-03在天津医科大学内分泌研究所完成。 材料：1月龄SD大鼠1只，用于分离制备骨髓间充质干细胞。健康雌性SD大鼠30只，用于建立脊髓损伤动物模型，随机分成单纯损伤组、细胞移植组、细胞移植+法舒地尔组，10只/组。法舒地尔为天津红日药业公司产品。 方法：造模1周后，细胞移植组、细胞移植+法舒地尔组大鼠显露脊髓损伤区域，注入10 μL骨髓间充质干细胞悬液。此外，细胞移植+法舒地尔组6 h后开始腹腔注射10 mg/kg法舒地尔，2次/d，连续用药1周。 主要观察指标：斜板实验检测后肢运动功能，病理切片苏木精-伊红染色结果，HRP逆行神经示踪，Western-Blot法检测脊髓组织Phospho-ERM蛋白的表达。 结果：①造模后8周，与单纯损伤组比较，细胞移植组及细胞移植+法舒地尔组大鼠斜板试验角度均显著增加(P < 0.05， P < 0.01)，且后者增加幅度明显大于前者(P < 0.05)。②单纯损伤组损伤处脊髓组织断裂，有明显空洞形成；细胞移植组、细胞移植+法舒地尔组可见少量神经轴索样结构，但细胞移植组的组织空洞大于细胞移植+法舒地尔组。③单纯损伤组至T8以上节段可见较少的HRP阳性颗粒标记的神经纤维；细胞移植组HRP阳性神经纤维数居中；细胞移植+法舒地尔组可见较多HRP阳性颗粒标记的神经纤维。④单纯损伤组、细胞移植组脊髓细胞Phospho-ERM蛋白的表达均明显高于细胞移植+法舒地尔组(P < 0.05)。 结论：骨髓间质干细胞移植对于脊髓损伤大鼠后肢运动功能的恢复有促进作用，联合应用法舒地尔可产生协同效果。     

组织工程支架在犬急性脊髓损伤修复中应用的初步研究

目的探讨携带神经干细胞的聚碳酸亚丙酯[poly（propylene carbonate），PPC]可降解支架移植在犬脊髓急性损伤后修复中的作用。方法制作犬T13脊髓左侧半切损伤模型。将实验动物随机分为3组：细胞支架组在损伤后1周时将填充神经干细胞的PPC可降解支架植入损伤区．支架组只植入支架，对照组不作移植。8周后观察支架的组织反应、降解情况及神经干细胞的迁移分化和脊髓轴突再生情况。结果支架部分降解，管腔内未见瘢痕侵入。神经干细胞向支架邻近部位广泛迁移、扩散，并分化为3种神经细胞表型。神经丝蛋白（NF）及髓鞘碱性磷酯蛋白（MBP）免疫组化显示细胞支架组脊髓损伤区邻近部位的继发损害较其他组轻。结论携带神经干细胞的PPC可降解支架在犬脊髓组织中无明显组织反应．能够抵御瘢痕侵入：其携带的神经干细胞能够整合入邻近脊髓组织并起到一定保护作用。     

Transplantation of Nogo-66 receptor gene-silenced cells in a poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffold for the treatment of spinal cord injury

Inhibition of neurite growth,which is in large part mediated by the Nogo-66 receptor,affects neural regeneration following bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation.The tissue engineering scaffold poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolic acid) has good histocompatibility and can promote the growth of regenerating nerve fibers.The present study used small interfering RNA to silence Nogo-66 receptor gene expression in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and Schwann cells,which were subsequently transplanted with poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolic acid) into the spinal cord lesion regions in rats.Simultaneously,rats treated with scaffold only were taken as the control group.Hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry revealed that at 4 weeks after transplantation,rats had good motor function of the hind limb after treatment with Nogo-66 receptor gene-silenced cells plus the poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolic acid) scaffold compared with rats treated with scaffold only,and the number of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and neuron-like cells was also increased.At 8 weeks after transplantation,horseradish peroxidase tracing and transmission electron microscopy showed a large number of unmyelinated and myelinated nerve fibers,as well as intact regenerating axonal myelin sheath following spinal cord hemisection injury.These experimental findings indicate that transplantation of Nogo-66 receptor gene-silenced bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and Schwann cells plus a poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolic acid) scaffold can significantly enhance axonal regeneration of spinal cord neurons and improve motor function of the extremities in rats following spinal cord injury.     

高压氧联合神经干细胞移植治疗大鼠脊髓损伤

背景：单纯神经干细胞移植已应用于对受损脊髓组织的修复。 目的：以神经干细胞移植同时应用高压氧治疗大鼠脊髓损伤,观察联合作用对脊髓损伤大鼠运动功能恢复的影响。 方法：雌性SD大鼠60只,以半切法制成胸段脊髓半横断大鼠模型。随机分成单纯损伤组、神经干细胞移植组及高压氧治疗组,每组20只。伤后第4周取材行病理切片苏木精-伊红染色及BrdU免疫组织化学染色,第8周取材行辣根过氧化物酶示踪,透射电镜观察轴突的再生情况,通过体感诱发电位观察神经电生理恢复情况。造模后1,2,4,6,8周进行BBB评分和斜板实验等运动功能检测。 结果与结论：观察伤后4周病理切片,单纯损伤组未见神经轴索通过,神经干细胞移植组可见少量神经轴索样结构,高压氧治疗组可见较多神经轴索样结构。BrdU的阳性细胞数及辣根过氧化物酶阳性神经纤维数,高压氧治疗组最多,神经干细胞移植组次之,单纯损伤组最少,且各组之间差异有显著性意义(P < 0.05)。透射电镜下神经干细胞移植组、高压氧治疗组正中横断面可见新生的无髓及有髓神经纤维。高压氧治疗组大鼠体感诱发电位的潜伏期短于神经干细胞移植组,波幅高于神经干细胞移植组(P < 0.05),明显优于单纯损伤组(P < 0.01)。伤后4周神经干细胞移植组、高压氧治疗组大鼠后肢运动功能均有较明显恢复,高压氧治疗组较神经干细胞移植组恢复快(P < 0.05);单纯损伤组亦有所恢复,但程度较轻。提示神经干细胞移植对于脊髓损伤大鼠后肢功能的恢复有促进作用,联合应用高压氧有协同效果。     

Repair of spinal cord injury by neural stem cells modified with BDNF gene in rats

Objective To explore repair of spinal cord injury by neural stem cells (NSCs) modified with brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene (BDNF-NSCs) in rats. Methods Neural stem cells modified with BDNF gene were transplanted into the complete transection site of spinal cord at the lumbar 4 (L4) level in rats. Motor function of rats' hind limbs was observed and HE and X-gal immunocytochemical staining, in situ hybridization, and retrograde HRP tracing were also performed, Results BDNF-NSCs survived and integrated well with host spinal cord. In the transplant group, some X-gal positive, NF-200 positive, GFAP positive, BDNF positive, and BDNF mRNA positive cells, and many NF-200 positive nerve fibers were observed in the injury site. Retrograde HRP tracing through sciatic nerve showed some HRP positive cells and nerve fibers near the rostral side of the injury one month after transplant and with time, they increased in number. Examinations on rats' motor function and behavior demonstrated that motor function of rats' hind limbs improved better in the transplant group than the injury group. Conclusion BDNF-NSCs can survive, differentiate, and partially integrate with host spinal cord, and they significantly ameliorate rats' motor function of hind limbs, indicating their promising role in repairing spinal cord injury.     

Repair of spinal cord injury by neural stem cells modified with BDNF gene in rats

Objective To explore repair of spinal cord injury by neural stem cells （NSCs） modified with brain derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） gene （BDNF-NSCs） in rats. Methods Neural stem cells modified with BDNF gene were transplanted into the complete transection site of spinal cord at the lumbar 4 （L4） level in rats. Motor function of rats＇ hind limbs was observed and HE and X-gal immunoeytochemical staining, in situ hybridization, and retrograde HRP tracing were also performed. Results BDNF-NSCs survived and integrated well with host spinal cord. In the transplant group, some X-gal positive, NF-200 positive, GFAP positive, BDNF positive, and BDNF mRNA positive cells, and many NF-200 positive nerve fibers were observed in the injury site. Retrograde HRP tracing through sciatic nerve showed some HRP positive cells and nerve fibers near the rostral side of the injury one month after transplant and with time, they increased in number. Examinations on rats＇ motor function and behavior demonstrated that motor function of rats＇ hind limbs improved better in the transplant group than the injury group. Conclusion BDNF-NSCs can survive, differentiate, and partially integrate with host spinal cord, and they significantly ameliorate rats＇ motor function of hind limbs, indicating their promising role in repairing spinal cord injury.     

移植分泌神经营养素3的人胚神经干细胞在脊髓损伤大鼠体内存活及对运动功能的影响

BACKGROUND： Many methods have been attempted to repair nerves following spinal cord injury, including peripheral nerve transplantation, Schwann cell transplantation, olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation, and embryonic neural tissue transplantation. However, there is a need for improved outcomes.
OBJECTIVE： To investigate the repair feasibility for rat spinal cord injury using human neural stem cells （hNSCs） genetically modified by lentivirus to express neurotrophin-3.
DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： In vitro cell biological experiment and in vivo randomized, controlled genetic engineering experiment were performed at the Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA and First People＇s Hospital of Yibin, China from March 2006 to December 2007.
MATERIALS： A total of 64 adult, female, Wistar rats were used for the in vivo study. Of them, 48 rats were used to establish models of spinal cord hemisection, and were subsequently equally and randomly assigned to model, genetically modified hNSC, and normal hNSC groups. The remaining 16 rats served as normal controls.
METHODS： hNSCs were in vitro genetically modified by lentivirus to secrete both green fluorescence protein and neurotrophin-3. Neurotrophin-3 expression was measured by Western blot. Genetically modified hNSC or normal hNSC suspension （5 × 10^5） was injected into the rat spinal cord following T10 spinal cord hemisection. A total of 5μL Dulbecco＇s-modified Eagle＇s medium was infused into the rat spinal cord in the model grop. Transgene expression and survival of transplanted hNSCs were determined by immunohistochemistry. Motor function was evaluated using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan （BBB） scale.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The following parameters were measured： expression of neurotrophin-3 produced by genetically modified hNSCs, transgene expression and survival of hNSCs in rats, motor function in rats.
RESULTS： hNSCs were successfully genetically modified by lentivirus to stably express neurotrophin-3. The transplanted hNSCs primarily gathered at, or around, the injection site two weeks following transplantation, and gradually migrated towards the surrounding tissue. Transplanted hNSCs were observed 7.0-8.0 mm away from the injection site. In addition, hNSCs were observed 10 weeks after transplantation. At week 4, BBB locomotor scores were significantly greater in the genetically modified hNSC and normal hNSC groups, compared with the model group （P 〈 0.05）, and scores were significantly greater in the genetically modified hNSC group compared with the normal hNSC group （P 〈 0.05）.
CONCLUSION： hNSCs were genetically modified with lentivirus to stably secrete neurotrophin-3. hNSCs improved motor function recovery in rats following spinal cord injury.     

Transplantation of erythropoietin gene-modified neural stem cells improves the repair of injured spinal cord

The protective effects of erythropoietin on spinal cord injury have not been well described. Here, the eukaryotic expression plasmid pc DNA3.1 human erythropoietin was transfected into rat neural stem cells cultured in vitro. A rat model of spinal cord injury was established using a free falling object. In the human erythropoietin-neural stem cells group, transfected neural stem cells were injected into the rat subarachnoid cavity, while the neural stem cells group was injected with non-transfected neural stem cells. Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium/F12 medium was injected into the rats in the spinal cord injury group as a control. At 1–4 weeks post injury, the motor function in the rat lower limbs was best in the human erythropoietin-neural stem cells group, followed by the neural stem cells group, and lastly the spinal cord injury group. At 72 hours, compared with the spinal cord injury group, the apoptotic index and Caspase-3 gene and protein expressions were apparently decreased, and the bcl-2 gene and protein expressions were noticeably increased, in the tissues surrounding the injured region in the human erythropoietin-neural stem cells group. At 4 weeks, the cavities were clearly smaller and the motor and somatosensory evoked potential latencies were remarkably shorter in the human erythropoietin-neural stem cells group and neural stem cells group than those in the spinal cord injury group. These differences were particularly obvious in the human erythropoietin-neural stem cells group. More CM-Dil-positive cells and horseradish peroxidase-positive nerve fibers and larger amplitude motor and somatosensory evoked potentials were found in the human erythropoietin-neural stem cells group and neural stem cells group than in the spinal cord injury group. Again, these differences were particularly obvious in the human erythropoietin-neural stem cells group. These data indicate that transplantation of erythropoietin gene-modified neural stem cells into the subarachnoid cavity to help repair spinal cord injury and promote the recovery of spinal cord function better than neural stem cell transplantation alone. These findings may lead to significant improvements in the clinical treatment of spinal cord injuries.