Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2016, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (10): 1446-1451.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2016.10.011

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Stereotactic transplantation of neural stem cells into the brain improves motor function of craniocerebral trauma rats

Diao Xin-feng1, Cheng Li-min2, Xue Yong1, Hu Cheng-wang1, Cai Zhong-li3   

  1. 1Department of Neurosurgery, 2Department of Neurology, 3Department of Thoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanyang Medical College, Nanyang 473000, Henan Province, China
  • Received:2016-02-04 Online:2016-03-04 Published:2016-03-04
  • About author:Diao Xin-feng, Attending physician, Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanyang Medical College, Nanyang 473000, Henan Province, China

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Cell replacement therapy as an effective strategy for reconstruction of the central nervous system has very broad application prospects.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of stereotactic transplantation of neural stem cells into the brain on the neuromotor function of craniocerebral trauma rats.
METHODS: Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were equivalently randomized into study and control groups. Animal models of craniocerebral trauma were made using the improved free-fall method in the rats. Then, model rats in the study and control groups were given parenchymal transplantation of embryonic neural stem cells and the same volume of culture medium with no stem cells at 1 day after injury, respectively. Neuromotor function of rats was assessed based on the neurological severity scores. At 2 weeks after transplantation, brain tissues were taken for hematoxylin-eosin staining, anti-BrdU, glial fibrillary acidic protein, β-tubulin III and tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry staining.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The neurological severity scores in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group at 1 and 2 weeks after injury (P < 0.05). In the study group, there were many BrdU-positive neural stem cells in the brain tissues, some of which were positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein, β-tubulin III and tyrosine hydroxylase; while in the control group, there was no BrdU-positive cell in the brain tissues. Experimental findings show that neural stem cells stereotactically transplanted into the brain can proliferate and differentiate in the brain lesion, and thereby notably improve the neuromotor function of rats with craniocerebral trauma.