Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2012, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (47): 8821-8825.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2012.47.018

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Transplantation of copolymer scaffolds inoculated with neural stem cells and Schwann cells for repairing spinal cord injuries in rats

Xia Lei1, Hao Shu-yu2, Li De-zhi2, Chen Gang3, Gao Chuan-chuan1, Li Jun-hua4, Wan Hong4   

  1. 1Beijing Sanbo Brain Hospital (Eleventh Clinical College of Capital Medical University), Beijing 100093, China
    2Beijing Tiantan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
    3Department of Neurosurgery, the Fourth Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi 214062, Jiangsu Province, China
    4Beijing Neurosurgical Institute Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
  • Received:2012-02-09 Revised:2012-04-10 Online:2012-11-18 Published:2013-03-15
  • Contact: Wan Hong, Doctor, Investigator, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China wanhong50@ hotmail.com
  • About author:Xia Lei☆, Doctor, Attending physician, Beijing Sanbo Brain Hospital ( Eleventh Clinical College of Capital Medical University), Beijing 100093, China neuroartist@163.com

PDF

503

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that poly (lactide-co-glycolide) scaffolds can exhibit good biocompatibility with neural stem cells and Schwann cells in vitro.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether cografted with Schwann cells, neural stem cells can survive and differentiate in poly (lactide-co-glycolide) scaffold, and whether poly (lactide-co-glycolide) tissue-engineering complexes can promote axonal regeneration and myelinization.
METHODS: A Wistar rat model of spinal cord injury with hemisection at T8 segment was established. The rats were divided into three groups randomly: scaffold group, neural stem cells group and co-graft group. Rats in the scaffold group were implanted with poly (lactide-co-glycolide) scaffold; those in the neural stem cells group were implanted with the PLGA scaffolds inoculated with neural stem cells (labeled with green fluorescence protein); while those in the co-graft group were implanted with PLGA scaffolds inoculated with neural stem cells (labeled with green fluorescence protein) and Schwann cells.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Transplanted neural stem cells could survive in the injured spinal cord of rats and migrate near to the spinal cord. Survival rate of positive cells labeled with green fluorescence protein of the co-graft group was significantly higher than that in the neural stem cells group (P < 0.001). In the co-graft group, glial fibrillary acidic protein/green fluorescence protein double-positive cells were more than neuronspecific enolase/green fluorescence protein double-positive cells. However, no neuronspecific enolase/green fluorescence protein double-positive cells could be found in the neural stem cells group. In the co-graft group, only a little part of green fluorescence protein positive cells expressed synaptophysin. Compared to the other two groups, there was a remarkable increase in the number of regenerated and myelinated axons in the co-graft group. But there was no significant difference in the number of myelinated axons among the three groups (P=0.058). These results suggest that cografted with Schwann cells, neural stem cells can be promoted to differentiate into neuron-like cells, of which small parts can form synaptic connection. Besides, the poly (lactide-co-glycolide) scaffolds inoculated with neural stem cells and Schwann cells can promote axonal regeneration and myelinization.

CLC Number: