Effects of intracarotid administration of human cord blood mononuclear cells on cognitive functions and content of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the vascular dementia rats

Objective To explore the effects of intracarotid administration of human cord blood mononuclear cells(HCMNCs)on cognitive functions and content of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)in the vascular dementia(VD)rats.Methods The VD rat model was established by modified pulsinellis 4-vessel occlusion(4 VO).HCMNCs were isolated from human umbilical cord blood in vitro.The treatment group received intracarotid infusion 3×106/0.5 ml HCMNCs which were prelabeled with BrdU in vitro.The learning-memory abilities and the contents of BDNF were observed on the 2nd w,4th w and 8th w by computerized shuttle-training case and Enzyme-linked immunoadsordent assay(ELISA).Results AAR ratio in the model group showed significantly decrease compared with the control(P0.01),and the treatment group was significant higher than the model group(P0.01).The contents of BDNF in the model group was significantly higher than that in the control group,increased to the highest level on the 4th w,and then decreased on the 8th w but compared with that on the 2th w,significant difference was found.Compared with the model group,the contents of BDNF in the treatment group showed significantly increase after infusion of HCMNCs,increased to the highest level on the 4th w,and then decreased on the 8th w but maintained the high level,there were no significant difference between that on the 4th w and on the 8th w.Conclusion Intracarotid administration of HCMNCs could significantly improve the learning-memory abilities and increased the contents of BDNF in the VD rats.