Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Stem cells transplantation is one of the potential methods for the treatment of Parkinson's diseases (PD).
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of neural stem cells engrafted into the striatum on rotational behavior and dopamine concentration of rat model with PD.
METHODS: Rat models of PD were established by point injection with 6-hydroxy dopamine to damage nigrostriatal, the 1×106 (total 20 μL) passage 3 fetal rat neural stem cells or normal saline were injected into the striatum of the established rat model.   
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After neural stem cells were transplanted into the striatum, the rotational behavior of the PD rat was improved obviously. Three weeks later, the results of immunohistochemistry detection showed that the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells in the substantia nigra of transfected PD rat was increased obviously, and the tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells could be seen in the striatum. Fluorescence microscope observation showed that the Hoechst 33324d marked stem cells were more intensive near the site of transplantation and migrated to distant part. Eight weeks later, high performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that dopamine concentration in the striatum of stem cells transplanted PD rats was significantly higher (P < 0.01). It indicates that intracerebral neural stem cells transplantation can reduce the rat substantia nigra dopaminergic neuronal damage caused by 6-hydroxy dopamine, and improve the rotational behavior of PD rat.