神经干细胞生存因子在大鼠脊髓损伤前后的表达变化(英文)

目的观察大鼠脊髓损伤后干细胞来源的神经干细胞生存因子(SDNSF) mRNA在大鼠正常和损伤脊髓的表达变化,以及SDNSF的表达与Ⅵ类中间丝蛋白的表达之间的关系。方法按改良的Allen重物打击法制备大鼠脊髓损伤模型,采用RT-PCR、原位杂交方法,观察SDNSF mRNA在大鼠脊髓中的表达位置及在损伤脊髓中的表达变化。应用免疫组化的方法,显示脊髓中nestin 的表达。结果 RT-PCR检测SDNSF mRNA在正常大鼠脊髓中的表达,损伤后4天SDNSF 的mRNA表达上升,损伤8天到达高峰,此后SDNSF 的mRNA表达逐渐减少,到16天恢复到正常水平;脊髓切片原位杂交结果发现SDNSF的 mRNA 阳性细胞主要分布于脊髓灰质细胞中,可能是神经元细胞,结果表明正常脊髓可表达SDNSF;脊髓损伤后8天,原位杂交显示SDNSF阳性细胞明显增多。同时与此切片相邻层面的切片免疫组化证实nestin阳性细胞增殖、变大、向周围发出突起,但这些阳性细胞在分布上与SDNSF无关。结论 (1) SDNSF在脊髓中表达于灰质,脊髓损伤后SDNSF的 mRNA表达随时间发生变化。(2)随着脊髓损伤的修复,nestin 阳性细胞增殖,但是这些细胞并不表达SDNSF。     

慢性压迫性脊髓损伤后巢蛋白mRNA表达的观察

目的观察成年大鼠慢性压迫性脊髓损伤后及减压后早期巢蛋白与巢蛋白mRNA的相关性表达。方法选用健康wistar大鼠50只，体重280～320g，制备慢性压迫性脊髓损伤中度、重度及重度损伤减压后3d、10d模型，取自距胜迫边缘5mm段脊髓组织切片。正常成年大鼠作为对照组。行巢蛋白免疫组织化学染色，巢蛋白mRNA原位杂交实验，计算机罔像分析仪定量分析，观察巢蛋白、巢蛋白mRNA在脊髓中央管、灰质和白质中表达的变化，探讨巢蛋白与巢蛋白mRNA表达的相关性。结果成年大鼠慢性膻迫性脊髓损伤中、重度及重度压迫损伤减压后3d，巢蛋白在自、灰质及脊髓中央管室管膜细胞中均有明显表达（P〈0．05），以重度压迫组最为显著（P〈0．01）。减压后10d组灰质与正常对照组比较，差异无显著性意义（P=0．483）。重度压迫组及减压后3d组，巢蛋白mRNA在脊髓灰质、白质及中央管室管膜细胞中均有显著性表达（P〈0．05），以灰质前角第Ⅸ板层、后角和室管膜下区最为显著。中度压迫组，巢蛋白mRNA在灰质前角第Ⅸ板层及中央管室管膜细胞中有显著性表达（P〈0．05），其余区域仅有微弱表达，而白质内巢蛋白mRNA表达于软脊膜下星形胶质细胞的足突中。减压后10d组灰质内巢蛋白mRNA的表达与正常对照组比较，无显著性差异（P=0．375）。正常对照组中无表达。结论成年大鼠慢性压迫性脊髓损伤及减压后早期存在神经前体细胞的增殖。增殖的神经前体细胞巢蛋白与巢蛋白mRNA表达的相关性具有与胚胎发育期脊髓相似的特征。     

氯化锂对脊髓损伤大鼠内源性神经干细胞的影响

背景：对于脊髓损伤的治疗,移植外源性神经干细胞仍面临着诸多难题,因此激活内源性神经干细胞的“补充治疗”策略成为近来研究热点。已发现氯化锂可以明显抑制神经干细胞的分化而促进其增殖,其效应与Wnt信号通路有关。 目的：探讨氯化锂对大鼠脊髓损伤后内源性神经干细胞的影响。 设计、时间及地点：随机对照动物实验,于2008-03/08在珠江医院中心实验室进行。 材料：Wistar成年雌性大鼠55只,分为3组：正常对照组5只、单纯损伤组25只、氯化锂治疗组25只。氯化锂为广州光华化学试剂厂产品。 方法：单纯损伤组、氯化锂治疗组大鼠采用经典Allens重物坠落法在T10段制作急性脊髓损伤模型。从造模后1 h开始,氯化锂治疗组经腹腔注射氯化锂3 mmol/(kg•d),直至取材;单纯损伤组同法给予等量生理盐水;正常对照组不作任何处理。各组取材前24 h腹腔注射Brdu溶液进行标记,每8 h注射1次,共3次。对距离损伤中心5 mm处的脊髓进行Brdu、连环蛋白免疫组化检测。 主要观察指标：BrdU阳性细胞数及连环蛋白阳性表达面积。 结果：正常对照组脊髓中央管周围及外膜可见少量Brdu阳性细胞,几乎无连环蛋白阳性表达。单纯损伤组造模后24 h即可见大量Brdu阳性细胞及微量连环蛋白表达,1周时两者达到高峰,主要分布于损伤脊髓周围的灰质和室管膜区,2周后开始明显减少,4周时仅见少量Brdu阳性细胞及连环蛋白阳性表达。与单纯损伤组比较,造模后24 h氯化锂治疗组Brdu阳性细胞及连环蛋白的表达无显著性差异,1周时在中央管周围、外膜、灰质中Brdu阳性细胞数及连环蛋白表达量明显增多(P < 0.05),至2周时仍处于较高水平,4周时仍有大量Brdu阳性细胞及连环蛋白表达。 结论：脊髓损伤后氯化锂的应用可以明显提高损伤脊髓组织内连环蛋白的表达,伴随着连环蛋白浓度的提高及持续表达,促进内源性神经干细胞的增殖,其作用机制与Wnt信号通路有关。     

脑梗死后康复训练对成年大鼠海马结构中神经干细胞的影响

目的　研究成年大鼠局灶性脑缺血损伤(脑梗死)后康复训练对海马结构中内源性神经干细胞增殖的影响,探讨脑梗死后康复训练使神经功能改善的理论基础。方法　采用线栓法造成成年大鼠永久性MCAO(middle cerebral artery occulsion),形成脑梗死动物模型。大鼠脑梗死24小时后,随机分为梗死对照组和梗死后康复训练组。康复训练组每天进行平衡木、转棒、滚笼训练,对照组不进行训练饲养于标准笼中。运用免疫组化方法,通过神经上皮干细胞蛋白即 nestin标记神经干细胞,观察、比较脑梗死后7天、14天、21天时两组大鼠海马结构中 nestin阳性细胞分布和数量的变化及差异。结果　脑梗死后两组大鼠梗死侧海马结构中nestin阳性细胞均较对侧显著增多,海马附近的侧脑室后角与CA1区之间及齿状回中阳性细胞密集,其中脑梗死后7天阳性细胞最多,以后逐渐减少。脑梗死后7天及14天康复训练组大鼠梗死侧海马结构中nestin阳性细胞数较对照组显著增加 (P < 0.01),脑梗死后21天两组无显著性差异(P >0.05)。结论　康复训练可以促进成年大鼠局灶性脑缺血损伤(脑梗死)后海马结构中神经干细胞增殖水平上调,这可能是脑梗死后康复训练有助于缺损的神经功能恢复的一个机制。     

骨髓基质干细胞静脉移植治疗大鼠脊髓损伤模型后Bcl-2、Bax的表达

目的 通过静脉移植绿色荧光蛋白转基因小鼠骨髓基质干细胞治疗大鼠脊髓挫伤模型,研究骨髓基质干细胞的移植对Bcl-2、Bax表达变化的影响,探讨静脉移植骨髓基质干细胞治疗脊髓损伤的可行性.方法 SD成年雌性大鼠,随机分成正常组、对照组、静脉移植组(后2组再分为术后1、3、7、14、21、28d组).用自制改良的Allen 装置使不锈钢杆自由落下,造成T12脊髓节段挫裂伤.在术前及术后对大鼠进行BBB评分和爬网格试验.术后第2d移植绿色荧光蛋白转基因小鼠的MSCs.之后,分别于1、3、7、14、21、28d取损伤(T12脊髓节段)节段上下约3cm固定,制作15～20μm厚的连续冰冻切片,每隔5片取一片组织进行荧光细胞观察及Bcl-2、Bax抗体免疫组织化学ABC染色.在荧光显微镜下观察细胞移植组灾光细胞,在Olympus光学显微镜下对脊髓灰质前角进行阳性细胞计数,利用HPLAS-1000高清晰图文分析系统检测Bcl-2、Bax免疫阳性反应物的平均灰度值.应用SPSS11.0软件包进行组间多个样本均数比较的单因素方差分析、q检验.结果 在正常组脊髓灰质的前角可见Bcl-2、Bax阳性神经元的表达,Bcl-2免疫阳性产物主要定位于核膜中.Bax主要分布于位于神经元胞浆中.Bcl-2和Bax阳性细胞伤后7d达高峰,随后开始下降.细胞移植后该规律不变.对照组Bcl-2阳性神经元表达与各移植组比较有显著性差异(P＜0.05).结论 与损伤对照组相比细胞移植治疗组7、14d组Bcl-2阳性细胞数上升、Bax阳性细胞数下降,灰度值升高2组间有显著性差异,说明移植骨髓基质干细胞下调,7d及14d组Bax而上调Bcl-2的表达.     

人脐带间充质干细胞移植对大鼠脊髓损伤神经功能恢复的评价

目的 观察人脐带间充质干细胞（human umbilical cordmesenchymal stem cell，hUCMSC）移植对大鼠脊髓损伤神经功能恢复的影响。方法 SD大鼠70只，随机分为3组：脊髓半切＋hUCMSC组（n=30）、脊髓半切＋PBS组（n=30）和假手术组（n=10）。脊髓半切＋hUCMSC组和PBS组又分为头侧注射、尾侧注射和头尾两侧注射三个亚组。移植后1、7、14、21、28d观察大鼠神经功能恢复情况，应用免疫组化检测移植到脊髓的hUCMSC胶质纤维酸性蛋白（GFAP）和神经元特异性烯醇化酶（NSE）表达情况。结果 大鼠脊髓半切损害后，hUCMSC组动物较PBS组有明显的神经功能恢复。植入后28d在宿主脊髓中存活的hUCMSC细胞MABl281（mouse antiuman nuclei monoclonal antibody）染色阳性，免疫组化双标染色显示MABl28l阳性细胞亦分别有NSE或GFAP表达并向损伤部位迁移，hUCMSC来源的GFAP阳性细胞可见明显的树突生长。结论 hUCMSC移植到宿主损伤脊髓后可以存活、向损伤部位迁移，并向神经元样和星形胶质细胞分化，且可促进大鼠脊髓损伤后神经功能恢复。hUCMSC作为一种来源广泛的干细胞用于治疗脊髓损伤可能具有重要的价值。     

骨髓间充质干细胞立体定向移植治疗大鼠脊髓损伤*

摘要 背景：传统观念认为,神经组织损伤后几乎不能再生,以往对SCI的治疗缺乏有效手段,致使本病致残率高,疗效差。干细胞治疗关键在于移植具有再生能力的干细胞,通过多种作用机制,可以重建中枢神经系统的结构和功能,近年来引起了广泛的关注。 目的：探讨立体定向移植骨髓间充质干细胞（MSCs）对大鼠脊髓损伤修复的影响并探讨其机制 设计、时间及地点：随机对照动物实验,于2007-10/2008-6在天津市环湖医院完成。 材料：1月龄SD大鼠20只,用于制备骨髓间充质干细胞;健康成年Wistar大鼠45只,雌性、同系,体质量280±20 g。将动物随机分为对照组、假手术组与移植组,每组各15只。 方法：密度梯度离心法结合贴壁筛选法分离骨髓间充质干细胞,经流式细胞仪鉴定为MSCs。以动脉瘤夹夹闭法制备大鼠脊髓损伤（SCI）模型,在SCI大鼠致伤后第7天,通过立体定向途径移植MSCs到移植组大鼠脊髓损伤中心,移植等量生理盐水至假手术组大鼠脊髓损伤中心,对照组大鼠不做处理。 主要观察指标：SCI大鼠损伤前及损伤后第7天、14天、30天、60天、90天的BBB评分;损伤后第90天处死大鼠,观察其脊髓组织中有无BrdU阳性细胞、Brdu+NSE、Brdu+GFAP、Brdu+bFGF、Brdu+BDNF免疫组化双染阳性细胞并观察NSE、GFAP、bFGF、BDNF单染阳性细胞。 结果： ①BBB评分发现,MSCs移植组大鼠BBB后肢功能评分恢复优于对照组（p<0.05）;假手术组BBB评分在损伤后30天内恢复速度慢于对照组（p<0.05）,至第90天与对照组比较无显著差异（P>0.05）;②免疫组织化学染色发现,移植组大鼠脊髓内在损伤中心及头、尾端距离脊髓损伤中心1cm处均可见BrdU染色阳性细胞及Brdu+NSE、Brdu+GFAP、Brdu+bFGF、Brdu+BDNF免疫组化双染阳性细胞。移植组NSE、GFAP、bFGF、BDNF单染阳性细胞数明显高于对照组和假手术组（p<0.05）。 结论： MSCs移植可以促进SCI大鼠的神经功能的恢复,其机制可能与移植细胞分化为神经元样和神经胶质细胞样细胞,并分泌或促进宿主分泌神经营养因子有关。 关键词 脊髓损伤 骨髓间充质干细胞 立体定向 细胞移植     

胚胎小鼠脊髓源性与纹状体源性神经干细胞的培养及分化特点

目的 探讨小鼠脊髓源性神经干细胞与纹状体源性神经干细胞的分离培养方法 及增殖特点,比较两种来源的神经干细胞发育时期上的异同,寻找更有利于脊髓损伤修复的种子细胞.方法 利用显微解剖、无血清培养和单细胞克隆技术在孕14 d小鼠的胎鼠的脊髓及纹状体中分离培养具有单细胞克隆能力的细胞,免疫荧光染色检测克隆细胞的神经巢蛋白(nestin)抗原和诱导分化后特异性成熟神经细胞抗原的表达,并比较两种来源的干细胞在培养及分化方向上的异同点.结果从胎鼠的脊髓和纹状体中成功分离出神经干细胞.两种来源的干细胞均具有连续克隆能力可传代培养,表达nestin.脊髓血清诱导分化后脊髓源性神经干细胞β-tubulinⅢ阳性细胞(13.5±0.8)较纹状体源性神经干细胞(17.4±1.1)减少,而nestin、GFAP阳性细胞明显增多(45.7±0.3vs 39.2±1.2;25.2±1.3 vs 18.8±0.9),差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05). 结论 依据细胞增殖特点和分化结果的区别,证实纹状体源性神经干细胞更适合用于移植修复脊髓损伤.     

蛛网膜下腔移植骨髓基质干细胞治疗大鼠脊髓损伤模型Fas、Fas—L表达变化

目的 通过蛛网膜下腔移植绿色荧光蛋白转基因小鼠骨髓基质干细胞治疗大鼠脊髓挫伤模型,观察凋亡因子Fas和Fas-L在移植后不同时点的变化情况，为骨髓基质干细胞治疗脊髓损伤及机制提供实验室依据。方法 （1）成年健康SD雌鼠66只（体重200～250g）随机分成11组，每组6只，即空白对照组、损伤对照组、细胞移植治疗组（后2组再分为术后1、3、7、14、21d组）。（2）在手术前、后对大鼠进行BBB评分和爬网格试验。术后第2d移植MSCs。之后，制作15～20μm厚的连续冰冻切片，间隔取片进行荧光细胞观察及Fas和Fas—L抗体免疫组织化学ABC染色。并在光学显微镜下对脊髓灰质前角进行阳性细胞计数，用图文分析系统检测Fas和Fas—L免疫阳性反应物的平均灰度值。应用SPSS11．0软件包进行组间多个样本均数比较的单因素方差分析、q检验。结果 3组脊髓组织中均可见Fas和Fas—L阳性细胞。损伤对照组和细胞移植治疗组Fas和Fas—L阳性细胞数出现先升高后降低的趋势，1d组就出现表达，持续到14d组，21d组表达接近正常对照组，高峰出现在7d。21d接近正常对照组。损伤对照组与细胞移植治疗组相比较，阳性细胞数在7d、14d组出现差异（P〈0．05）细胞移植治疗组Fas和Fas—L1、3、7d组灰度值低于正常对照组（P〈0．05）。结论 与损伤对照组相比细胞移植治疗组7、14d组Fas、Fas-L阳性细胞数下降，灰度值升高，2组间有显著性差异，说明移植骨髓基质干细胞下凋7d及14d组Fas、Fas-L的表达。     

缺血性脑损伤诱导大鼠巢蛋白表达的实验研究

目的探讨缺血性脑损伤对内源性神经干细胞增殖、迁移的影响。方法选用健康雄性SD大鼠62只，随机分为正常组（6只）、脑缺血10min再灌流1、3、5、7、10、15、20d组（简称手术组，每时间点6只）、假手术对照组（14只，每时间点2只），参照Pulsinelli—Brierley方法制作短暂性全脑缺血动物模型：用SABC免疫组化法显示巢蛋白（nestin）阳性细胞；光镜下观察nestin阳性细胞的形态学变化并计数，半定量分析脑缺血损伤后内源性神经干细胞增殖、迁移的变化过程。结果手术组的nestin阳性细胞在缺血再灌流24h后表达增多，7～10d到高峰，15d时仍有显著表达；在室管膜下区的nestin阳性细胞有向皮质、海马迁移的迹象。结论缺血性脑损伤能诱导内源性神经干细胞增殖，这可能对脑损伤后的修复发挥作用。     

丙戊酸对脊髓损伤大鼠内源性神经干细胞增殖的影响

BACKGROUND： Valproic acid has been reported to decrease apoptosis, promote neuronal differentiation of brain-derived neural stem cells, and inhibit glial differentiation of brain-derived neural stem cells.
OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effects of valproic acid on proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells in a rat model of spinal cord injury.
DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled, neuropathological study was performed at Key Laboratory of Trauma, Buming, and Combined Injury, Research Institute of Surgery, Daping Hospital, the Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA between November 2005 and February 2007.
MATERIALS： A total of 45 adult, Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham surgery （n = 5）, injury （n = 20）, and valproic acid （n = 20） groups. Valproic acid was provided by Sigma, USA. METHODS： Injury was induced to the T10 segment in the injury and valproic acid groups using the metal weight-dropping method. The spinal cord was exposed without contusion in the sham surgery group. Rats in the valproic acid group were intraperitoneally injected with 150 mg/kg valproic acid every 12 hours （twice in total）.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Nestin expression （5 mm from injured center） was detected using immunohistochemistry at 1,3 days, 1, 4, and 8 weeks post-injury.
RESULTS： Low expression of nestin was observed in the cytoplasm, but rarely in the white matter of the spinal cord in the sham surgery group. In the injury group, nestin expression was observed in the ependyma and pia mater one day after injury, and expression reached a peak at 1 week （P 〈 0.05）. Expression was primarily observed in the ependymal cells, which expanded towards the white and gray matter of the spinal cord. Nestin expression rapidly decreased by 4 weeks post-injury, and had almost completely disappeared by 8 weeks. At 24 hours after spinal cord injury, there was no significant difference in nestin expression between the valproic acid and injury groups. At 1 week, there was a significant increase in the number of nestin-positive cells surrounding the central canal in valproic acid group compared with the injury group （P 〈 0.05）. Expression reached a peak by 4 weeks, and it was still present at 8 weeks.
CONCLUSION： Valproic acid promoted endogenous neural stem cell proliferation following spinal cord injury in rats.     

Effect of valproic acid on endogenous neural stem cell proliferation in a rat model of spinal cord injury

BACKGROUND: Valproic acid has been reported to decrease apoptosis, promote neuronal differentiation of brain-derived neural stem cells, and inhibit glial differentiation of brain-derived neural stem cells.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of valproic acid on proliferation of endogenous neural sterm cells in a rat model of spinal cord injury.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A randomized, controlled, neuropathological study was performed at Key Laboratory of Trauma, Buming, and Combined Injury, Research Institute of Surgery, Daping Hospital, the Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA between November 2005 and February 2007.MATERIALS: A total of 45 adult, Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham surgery (n=5), injury(n=20), and valproic acid (n=20) groups. Valproic acid was provided by Sigma, USA.METHODS: Injury was induced to the T10 segment in the injury and valproic acid groups using the metal weight-dropping method. The spinal cord was exposed without contusion in the sham surgery group. Rats in the valproic acid group were intraperitoneally injected with 150 mg/kg valproic acid every 12 hours (twice in total).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Nestin expression (5 mm from injured center) was detected using immunohistochemistry at 1, 3 days, 1, 4, and 8 weeks post-injury.RESULTS: Low expression of nestin was observed in the cytoplasm, but rarely in the white matter of the spinal cord in the sham surgery group. In the injury group, nestin expression was observed in the ependyma and pia mater one day after injury, and expression reached a peak at 1 week (P<0.05).Expression was primarily observed in the ependymal cells, which expanded towards the white and gray matter of the spinal cord. Nestin expression rapidly decreased by 4 weeks post-injury, and had almost completely disappeared by 8 weeks. At 24 hours after spinal cord injury, there was nosignificant difference in nestin expression between the valproic acid and injury groups. At 1 week,there was a significant increase in the number of nestin-positive cells surrounding the central canal in valproic acid group compared with the injury group (P<0.05). Expression reached a peak by 4 weeks, and it was still present at 8 weeks.CONCLUSION: Valproic acid promoted endogenous neural stem cell proliferation following spinal cord injury in rats.     

Pluripotent stem cells engrafted into the normal or lesioned adult rat spinal cord are restricted to a glial lineage

Proliferating populations of undifferentiated neural stem cells were isolated from the embryonic day 14 rat cerebral cortex or the adult rat subventricular zone. These cells were pluripotent through multiple passages, retaining the ability to differentiate in vitro into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Two weeks to 2 months after engraftment of undifferentiated, BrdU-labeled stem cells into the normal adult spinal cord, large numbers of surviving cells were seen. The majority of the cells differentiated with astrocytic phenotype, although some oligodendrocytes and undifferentiated, nestin-positive cells were detected; NeuN-positive neurons were not seen. Labeled cells were also engrafted into the contused adult rat spinal cord (moderate NYU Impactor injury), either into the lesion cavity or into the white or gray matter both rostral and caudal to the injury epicenter. Up to 2 months postgrafting, the majority of cells either differentiated into GFAP-positive astrocytes or remained nestin positive. No BrdU-positive neurons or oligodendrocytes were observed. These results show robust survival of engrafted stem cells, but a differentiated phenotype restricted to glial lineages. We suggest that in vitro induction prior to transplantation will be necessary for these cells to differentiate into neurons or large numbers of oligodendrocytes.     

Proliferation and differentiation of reactive nestin＋/GFAP＋ cells in an adult rat model of compression-induced spinal cord injury

BACKGROUND： Studies have demonstrated that astrocytes may possess similar properties to neural stem cells/neural precursor cells and have the potential to differentiate into neurons. OBJECTIVE： To observe neuroepithelial stem cell protein （nestin） and glial fibrillary acidic protein （GFAP） expression following spinal cord injury, and to explore whether nestin＋/GFAP＋ cells, which are detected at peak levels in gray and white matter around the ependymal region of the central canal in injured spinal cord, possess similar properties of neural stem cells. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled experiment. The study was performed at the Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases （Xi＇an Jiaotong University）, Ministry of Education between January 2004 and December 2006. MATERIALS： Rabbit anti-rat nestin, β-tubulinⅢ, mouse anti-rat GFAP, galactocerebroside （GaLC） antibodies were utilized, as well as flow cytometry. METHODS： A total of 60 male, Sprague Dawley rats, aged 8 weeks, were randomly assigned to control （n = 12） and model （n = 48） groups. The spinal cord injury model was established in the model group by aneurysm clip compression, while the control animals were not treated. The gray and white matter around the ependymal region of the central canal exhibited peak expression of nestin＋/GFAP＋ cells. These cells were harvested and prepared into single cell suspension, followed by primary and passage cultures. The cells were incubated with serum-containing neural stem cell complete medium. MAINOUTCOME MEASURES： Nestin and GFAP expression in injured spinal cord was determined using immunohistochemistry and double-labeled immunofluorescence at 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 28, and 56 days post-injury. In addition, cell proliferation and differentiation were detected using immunofluorescence cytochemistry and flow cytometry. RESULTS： Compared with the control group, the model group exhibited significantly increased nestin and GFAP expression （P 〈 0.05）, which reached peak levels between 3 and 7 days. The majority of cells in the ependymal region around the central canal were nestin＋/GFAP- cells, while the gray and white matter around the ependymal region were full of nestin＋/GFAP＋ cells, with an astrocytic-like appearance. A large number of nestin＋/GFAP＋cells were observed in the model group cell culture, and the cells formed clonal spheres and displayed strong nestin-positive immunofluorescence staining. Following induced differentiation, a large number of GaLC-nestin, β-tubulin Ⅲ-nestin, and GFAP-nestin positive cells were observed. However, no obvious changes were seen in the control group. Cells in S stage, as well as the percentage of proliferating cells, in the model group were significantly greater than in the control group （P 〈 0.01）, CONCLUSION： Spinal cord injury in the adult rat induced high expression of nestin＋/GFAP＋ in the gray and white matter around the ependymal region of the central canal. These nestin＋/GFAP＋ cells displayed the potential to self-renew and differentiate into various cells. The cells could be neural stem cells of the central nervous system.     

Differentiation and migration of astrocytes in the spinal cord following dorsal root injury in the adult rat

Nerve fibre degeneration in the spinal cord is accompanied by astroglial proliferation. It is not known whether these cells proliferate in situ or are recruited from specific regions harbouring astroglial precursors. We found cells expressing nestin, characteristic of astroglial precursors, at the dorsal surface of the spinal cord on the operated side from 30 h after dorsal root injury. Nestin-expressing cells dispersed to deeper areas of the dorsal funiculus and dorsal horn on the operated side during the first few days after injury. Injection of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) 2 h before the end of the experiment, at 30 h after injury, revealed numerous BrdU-labelled, nestin-positive cells in the dorsal superficial region. In animals surviving 20 h after BrdU injection at 28 h postlesion, cells double-labelled with BrdU and nestin were also found in deeper areas. Labeling with BrdU 2 h before perfusion showed proliferation of microglia and radial astrocytes in the ventral and lateral funiculi on both sides of the spinal cord 30 h after injury. Nestin-positive cells coexpressed the calcium-binding protein Mts1, a marker for white matter astrocytes, in the dorsal funiculus, and were positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), but negative for Mts1 in the dorsal horn. One week after injury the level of nestin expression decreased and was undetectable after 3 months. Taken together, our data indicate that after dorsal root injury newly formed astrocytes in the degenerating white and grey matter first appear at the dorsal surface of the spinal cord from where some of them subsequently migrate ventrally, and differentiate into white- or grey-matter astrocytes.     

Differential expression of neuropsin and protease M/neurosin in oligodendrocytes after injury to the spinal cord

Neuropsin and protease M/neurosin are serine proteases expressed by neurons and glial cells, and serve a variety of functions in the central nervous system (CNS). The current study demonstrates changes in the expression of these proteases following hemisection of the mouse spinal cord. Within unlesioned spinal cord, neuropsin mRNA expression was occasionally observed in the gray but not white matter, while the level of protease M/neurosin mRNA was higher in the white matter. After injury to the spinal cord, neuropsin mRNA expression was induced in the white matter in the area immediately adjacent to the lesion, peaking at 4 days post-injury and disappearing by 14 days. Enhanced expression of protease M/neurosin mRNA was observed throughout the white and gray matter surrounding the lesion, peaking at 4 days and persisting for 14 days. Neuropsin mRNA was expressed predominantly by CNPase-positive oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, most of these cells were also associated with immunoreactivity for protease M/neurosin protein. Within unlesioned spinal cord, most protease M/neurosin mRNA-expressing cells were CNPase-positive oligodendrocytes, and a substantial fraction of these cells also showed immunoreactivity for NG2, a marker for oligodendrocyte progenitors. After injury, protease M/neurosin mRNA expression within NG2-positive cells was significantly decreased, while the constitutive expression in CNPase-positive oligodendrocytes appeared to be preserved. These findings suggest that each subpopulation of oligodendrocytes based on the expression of neuropsin and protease M/neurosin has different roles in the response of the spinal cord to injury as well as in normal homeostasis.     

Nestin enhancer requirements for expression in normal and injured adult CNS

The nestin gene is expressed in many CNS stem/progenitor cells, both in the embryo and the adult, and nestin is used commonly as a marker for these cells. In this report we analyze nestin enhancer requirements in the adult CNS, using transgenic mice carrying reporter genes linked to three different nestin enhancer constructs: the genomic rat nestin gene and 5 kb of upstream nestin sequence (NesPlacZ/3), 636 bp of the rat nestin second intron (E/nestin:EGFP), and a corresponding 714 bp region from the human second intron (Nes714tk/lacZ). NesPlacZ/3 and E/nestin:EGFP mice showed reporter gene expression in stem cell-containing regions of brain and spinal cord during normal conditions. NesPlacZ/3 and E/nestin:EGFP mice showed increased expression in spinal cord after injury and NesPlacZ/3 mice displayed elevated expression in the periventricular area of the brain after injury, which was not the case for the E/nestin:EGFP mice. In contrast, no expression in adult CNS in vivo was seen in the Nes714tk/lacZ mice carrying the human enhancer, neither during normal conditions nor after injury. The Nes714 tk/lacZ mice, however, expressed the reporter gene in reactive astrocytes and CNS stem cells cultured ex vivo. Collectively, this suggests a species difference for the nestin enhancer function in adult CNS and that elements outside the second intron enhancer are required for the full injury response in vivo.     

Rat hair follicle stem cells differentiate and promote recovery following spinal cord injury

Emerging studies of treating spinal cord injury （SCI） with adult stem cells led us to evaluate the effects of transplantation of hair follicle stem cells in rats with a compression-induced spinal cord lesion. Here, we proposed a hypothesis that rat hair follicle stem cell transplantation can promote the recovery of injured spinal cord. Compression-induced spinal cord injury was induced in Wistar rats in this study. The bulge area of the rat vibdssa follicles was isolated, cultivated and characterized with nestin as a stem cell marker. 5-Bromo-2＇-deoxyuridine （BrdU） labeled bulge stem cells were transplanted into rats with spinal cord injury. Immunohistochemical staining results showed that some of the grafted cells could survive and differentiate into oligodendrocytes （receptor-interacting protein positive cells） and neuronal-like cells （~lll-tubulin positive cells） at 3 weeks after transplantation. In addition, recovery of hind limb locomotor function in spinal cord injury rats at 8 weeks following cell transplantation was assessed using the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan （BBB） locomotor rating scale. The results demon- strate that the grafted hair follicle stem cells can survive for a long time period in vivo and differentiate into neuronal- and glial-like cells. These results suggest that hair follicle stem cells can promote the recovery of spinal cord injury.