Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation in the Repair of Rat Spinal Cord Hemisection Injury

Objective To investigate the differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells into neurons and transplantation of the stem cells to repair rat hemisection spinal cord injury.Methods Adherent culture was used to isolate and culture rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs).The rat spinal cord homogenate supernatant was used to induce neural differentiation of the 3rd generation cells.The nature of cell differentiation was identified by immunohistochemistry.The rat model of hemisection spinal cord injury was prepared and BrdU was locally injected to label the induced neurons.The distribution of living cells in the injuried spinal cord was observed at 5 weeks after cell transplantation.Results MSCs were spindle and polygonal,with 1-2 nucleoli seen under the inverted microscope.After induction with spinal cord homogenate supernatant there were a number of slender cytoplasmic projections forming interwined network and showing nestin expression,therefore,indicating the neuronal nature.MSCs at 5 weeks after transplantation into the spinal cord injury were surviving and their expression of MAP-2,NF,GFAP was significantly higher than that in the control rats(P0.05).The rat motor function was improved than before transplantation.Conclusion MSCs induced by spinal cord homogenate supernatant can be transplanted into hemisection spinal cord injury and improve the motor function of the injuries lesions.