Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2010, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (14): 2572-2578.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2010.14.021

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Nerve growth factor combined with neural stem cell transplantation for treating spinal cord injury in rats 

Fan Guang-ming1, Zhang Wen-bin2, Zhang Sai2, Wang Li-jun3   

  1. 1 Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin   300070, China; 2 Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Chinese People’s Armed Police Force, Tianjin   300162, China; 3 First People’s Hospital, Lingyuan   122500, Liaoning Province, China
  • Online:2010-04-02 Published:2010-04-02
  • Contact: Zhang Sai, Doctor, Doctoral supervisor, Chief physician, Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Chinese People’s Armed Police Force, Tianjin 300162, China zhangsai718@yahoo.com
  • About author:Fan Guang-ming★, Studying for master’s degree, Attending physician, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China Phoenix2a2@163.com

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The effects of simple neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation on repair of damaged spinal cord are not ideal. Previous studies have shown that nerve growth factor (NGF) has both effects of neuron nutrition and process growth promotion, can effectively contribute to the recovery of neurofunction following spinal cord injury (SCI).
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of neural stem cell transplantation combined with NGF application on the recovery of motor function of rats with SCI.
METHODS: A total of 42 Sprague Dawley rats were used to establish SPI models, and then divided randomly into three groups: medium, simple NSCs or NSCs + NGF. At 1 week following injury, medium, simple NSCs or NSCs + NGF were separately injected into damaged sites. At 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks post-injury, all animals were evaluated on the hind limb behavior with Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale and inclined plane test. At 4 weeks post-transplantation, histopathology hematoxylin-eosin staining and BrdU immunohistochemistry were performed. At 8 weeks post-transplantation, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) nerve trace and somatosensory evoked potential testing were performed to observe the recovery of nerve electrophysiology.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At 4 weeks following injury, motor function of the rat hindlimb was significantly improved in the simple NSCs group and NSCs + NGF group. The recovery was rapid in the NSCs + NGF group than the simple NSCs group (P < 0.05). The recovery was slight in the medium group. Pathological sections demonstrated that neurite was not found in the medium group. A few neurites were seen in the simple NSCs group, and many neurites were observed in the NSCs + NGF group. Numbers of BrdU-positive cells and HRP-positive nerve fibers: NSCs + NGF group > simple NSCs group > medium group, there was significant difference among groups (P < 0.01). Latent period and amplitude of somatosensory evoked potentials in the NSCs + NGF group were superior to the simple NSCs group (P < 0.05), and significantly better than the medium group (P < 0.01). Results suggested that NSC transplantation can promote the recovery of hindlimb function, and combined with NGF presents synergic effect.

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