Effects of Co-grafts Mesenchymal Suspension in the Repair of Spinal Stem Cells and Nerve Growth Factor Cord Injury

To investigate effect of the transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） in combination with nerve growth factor （NGF） on the repair of spinal cord injury （SCI） in adult rats, spinal cord of adult rats （n= 32） was injured by using the modified Allen＇ s method. One week after the injury, the injured cords were injected with Dubeeeo-modified Eagles medium （DMEM , Group Ⅰ ）, MSCs （Group Ⅱ ）, NGF （Group Ⅲ）, and MSCs plus NGF （Group Ⅳ）. One month and two months after the injury, rats were sacrificed and their injured cord tissues were sectioned for the identification of the transplanted cells. The axonal regeneration and the differentiation of MSCs were examined by immunoeytoehemieal staining. At the same time, rats were subjected to behavioral tests by using the open-field BBB scoring system. Immunoeytoehemieal staining showed that axonal regeneration and the transplanted cells partially expressed neuron-specific nuclear protein （NeuN） and glial fibrillary acidic protein （GFAP）. At the same time, significant improvement in BBB locomotor rating scale （P〈0. 05） were observed in the treatment group. More importantly, further functional improvement were noted in the combined treatment group. MSCs could differentiate into neurons and astroeytes. MSCs and NGF can promote axonal regeneration and improve functional recovery. There might exist a synergistic effect between MSCs and NGF.

Effects of Co-grafts Mesenchymal Suspension in the Repair of Spinal Stem Cells and Nerve Growth Factor Cord Injury