Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells derived neuron-like cells for spinal cord injury of adult rats.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility of neural differentiated mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) transplantation in the treatment of spinal cord injury in adult rats.Methods:32 SD rats were selected,and two of them were used for the extraction of mesenchymal stem cells,the rest were divided into 3 groups: neuron-like cells transplantation group(n=10),phosphate buffer group(n=10)and control group(n=10).The MSCs were isolated,cultured,passaged and induced,then the cells were labeled by Hoechst33342 and transplanted into tail vein first week post-injury.Immunofluorescence technology was taken to explore the existence and integration of the cells in the injured location.During 1 to 6 weeks after injury of spinal cord,BBB scorces were recorded in rats of each group and the data was analyzed by SPSS12.0.Results:The BBB marks in neuron-like cells transplantation group was much higher than the other groups.The immunofluorescence revealed most of the transplanted cells can survived in vivo,bridging at the two sides of the injured area,and a large number of the cells expressed neuro-specific marker such as neuro-specific enolase(NSE),neurofilament(NF-200) and astrocyte specific marker-glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP).Conclusion:Local transplanted neural differentiated mesenchymal stem cells contributes to the functional recovery of the rats with spinal cord iniury.