A STUDY ON THE COMBINATION OF GOREMOR VESSEL ELECTROACUPUNCTURE AND TRANSPLANTED NEURAL STEM CELLS TO PROMOTE THE SURVIVAL ANDA XONAL REGENERATION OF INJURED NEURONS IN COMPLETELY TRANSECTED SPINAL CORD IN RATS

Objective To explore the effects of combination of Goremor vessel electroacupuncture and transplanted neural stem cells(NSCs) on the survival and axonal regeneration of injured neurons in completely transected spinal cord of rats. MethodsCompletely transected spinal cord of T10 segment of adult rats was performed in the control group,the NSCs grafted group(NSCs group),the Goremor vessel electroacupuncture group(EC group) and the Goremor vessel electroacupuncture plus NSCs grafted group(EC+NSCs group).Meanwhile,NSCs were grafted into the transected site of spinal cord in NSCs group and EC+NSCs group.The animals of EC group and EC+NSCs group were treated by Goremor vessel electroacupuncture after operation.All of experimental rats were fed for 65 days. Results 1.Four kinds of positive nerve fibers of DBH,5-HTR,CGRP and GAP-43 at injured site of spinal cord in EC+NSCs group were obviously more than that in other three groups.2.That some regenerating nerve fibers crossed over the transected site of spinal cord were observed under the electron microscope,especially in EC+NSCs group.3.The number of injured neuronal survival at internal pyramidal layer of cerebral sensorimotor cortex and red nuclei of midbrain in EC+NSCs group was also more than that in other three groups.The regenerating nerve fibers of some neurons might cross over the transected site and into the caudal spinal cord tissue.Conclusion The combination of Goremor vessel electroacupuncture and transplanted NSCs may promote the survival and axonal regeneration of injured neurons in completely transected spinal cord of rats.