Effects of intracarotid administration of human cord blood mononuclear cells on cognitive function and content of nerve growth factor in the vascular dementia rats

Objective To explore the effect of intracarotid administration of human cord blood mononuclear cells(HCMNCs) on cognitive function and contents of nerve growth factor(NGF) 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 prelabelled with BrdU in vitro. The learning-memory abilities and the contents of NGF were observed at 2 w ,4 w and 8 w by computerized shuttle-training ease and Enzyme-linked immunoadsordent assay (ELISA). Results AAR ratio in the model group (55.4±4.5,42.1±4.5,44.2±3.6) showed significantly decrease compared with the control(91.7±3.9,90.0±4.3,92.5±5.0) (P<0.01), and the treatment(67.1±3.3,69.2±4.7,70.8±4.7) was significant higher than the model (P<0.01). The contents of NGF in the model group was significantly higher than that in the control at 2 w, increased to the highest level at 4 w, and then decreased at 8 w, but compared with that at 2 w, significant difference was found. Compared with the model group,the contents of NGF in the treatment showed significantly increase after infusion with HCMNCs, increased to the highest level at 4 w, and then decreased at 8 w but maintain the high level, there were no significant difference between that at 4 w and at 8 w. Conclusion Intraearotid administration of HCMNCs significantly improved the learning-memory abilities and increased the contents of NGF in the VD rats. Key words: Human cord blood mononuclear cells;  Vascular dementia;  Nerve growth factor