聚乳酸-乙醇酸支架移植对脊髓半横断损伤大鼠后肢运动能力和运动诱发电位的影响

目的 观察聚乳酸-乙醇酸（Poly-Lactic-co-glycolicacid,PLGA）支架对脊髓半横断损伤大鼠后肢运动功能的影响。方法 雌性成年Wistar大鼠随机分为正常组（n=15）、假手术组（n=15）、脊髓半横断（hemisectedspinal cord injury,hSCI）组（n=15）和脊髓半横断移植PLGA（PLGA）组（n=15）,术后进行行为学评分：BBB评分（Basso Beattie Bresnahan locomotor rating scale）和斜板（inclined plane,IP）试验,并观察皮层运动诱发电位（motor evoked ptentials,MEPs）的改变。结果 第4周时PLGA组BBB评分高于hSCI组（7.9±1.2 vs 7.1±1.3,P =0.042）;在第4、8周时PLGA组IP评分高于hSCI组（56.0±2.0 vs 54.7±2.3,P =0.030;64.7±2.4 vs 62.3±2.3,Ｐ＝0.038）;在第12周时PLGA组MEPs波幅高于hSCI组（29.9±11.0μV vs 21.4±10.4μV,P =0.039）。结论 PLGA支架移植能促进脊髓半横断损伤大鼠后肢运动功能和电生理功能的恢复。     

神经干细胞移植治疗脊髓损伤

目的:探讨神经干细胞移植对脊髓损伤大鼠后肢运动功能修复的影响。方法:SD大鼠36只,制成T10脊髓全横断损伤模型。于造模成功后1周采用局部微量注射法移植。随机分三组：A损伤对照组（n=12）仅打开椎管暴露脊髓;B移植对照组（n=12）：注射10μl DMEM/F12培养液;C细胞移植组（n=12）：移植1.0?06/ml的神经干细胞悬液10μl。移植后通过不同时间点BBB行为评分、病理组织学、免疫荧光技术评价大鼠大鼠脊髓功能修复情况及移植细胞在体内的存活、迁移、分化。 结果:在体外成功建立SD大鼠海马源性神经干细胞培养体系;B、C两组大鼠随着时间延长BBB评分均不同程度提高,从移植后2W起C组大鼠评分明显高于B组,两组比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;神经干细胞移植后能够在体内继续存活、迁移并且分化为NF-200、GFAP表达阳性的神经元及星形胶质细胞。 结论:神经干细胞移植治疗脊髓损伤是一种有效的方法。     

他克莫司对骨髓间充质干细胞移植治疗大鼠脊髓损伤的影响

目的骨髓间充质干细胞(BMSC)移植同时应用他克莫司(FK506),观察两者对脊髓损伤后大鼠恢复的影响。方法用钳夹法制作大鼠急性脊髓损伤动物模型30只,随机分成3组。A组为单纯损伤组,B组为单纯骨髓干细胞移植组,C组为骨髓干细胞联合FK506组。于伤后1w、2w、4w、6w、8w采用BBB评分。8周后取材,行免疫组化及病理学检查。结果B、C两组大鼠后肢运动功能均有较明显恢复,C组较B组为快,两组统计学上有差异(P<0.05)。A组亦有所恢复,但程度较轻。A组切片,未见神经轴索通过,B、C组可见少量神经轴索样结构。免疫组化显示:A组NF200阳性细胞,GFAP阳性细胞均较B组C组少(P<0.05)。C组Nogo阳性神经元较A、B两组明显减少(P<0.05)。B组NF200阳性细胞,GFAP阳性细胞均较C组少(P<0.05)。结论骨髓间质干细胞移植对于后肢功能的恢复有促进作用,联合应用FK506有协同效果。     

甲基强的松龙联合嗅鞘细胞移植对急性脊髓损伤大鼠运动功能和诱发电位的影响

背景：嗅鞘细胞移植和甲基强的松龙是两种非常有前途的治疗脊髓损伤方法,关于二者联合治疗脊髓损伤的报道较少,结果也不尽相同。 目的：通过对大鼠行为学评分和诱发电位学检测了解嗅球嗅鞘细胞移植和甲基强的松龙对大鼠急性脊髓损伤的修复作用以及二者之间有无协同作用。 方法：以NYU脊髓打击法建立大鼠急性T10脊髓损伤模型,术后分别注射嗅鞘细胞、甲基强的松龙、嗅鞘细胞+甲基强的松龙、无血清的DF12培养液、生理盐水。于术后8周进行后肢体感诱发电位、运动诱发电位检测,并通过BBB评分了解各组大鼠手术前、后运动功能的变化。 结果与结论：术后8周,嗅鞘细胞组、甲基强的松龙组、嗅鞘细胞+甲基强的松龙组与损伤组、DF12组比较,大鼠后肢BBB评分明显升高,体感诱发电位、运动诱发电位 N1波潜伏期缩短,波幅升高,差异有显著性意义(P < 0.05)。嗅鞘细胞+甲基强的松龙组与嗅鞘细胞组、甲基强的松龙组比较,大鼠后肢BBB评分明显升高,体感诱发电位、运动诱发电位N1波潜伏期缩短,波幅升高,差异有显著性意义(P < 0.05)。说明嗅鞘细胞移植和甲基强的松龙单独应用均可以显著促进急性脊髓损伤大鼠运动功能恢复。二者联合促进急性脊髓损伤大鼠运动功能恢复的效果更加显著。     

甲强龙、电针联合AECs移植治疗脊髓损伤的实验研究

目的 探讨甲强龙、电针与羊膜上皮细胞(amniotic epithelial cell,AECs)移植联合治疗,对脊髓损伤(spinal cord injury,SCl)大鼠下肢运动功能的影响.方法 将60只成年雌性Wistar大鼠随机分成5组,每组12只.A组(SCI损伤对照):做SCI手术,不进行治疗;B组(甲强龙治疗):SCI后,用大量甲强龙药物冲击治疗,共3d;C组(MP+电针):B组基础上,SCI后4h,行华佗夹脊穴电针治疗;D组(MP+电针+AEC):C组基础上,SCI后第7天,在脊髓损伤处移植大鼠AECs;E组(假手术):只打开椎板,暴露脊髓,不造成SCI.各组定期行为学观察(BBB评分),术后30d行5-HT免疫荧光组织化学观察和神经电生理检测.结果 5-HT染色:D组损伤区可见大量有序的5-HT阳性神经纤维,与E组最接近;BBB评分:D组恢复最为明显,与其它治疗组比较差异显著;MEP检测:D组峰-峰值显著增加,潜伏期明显缩短,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01).结论 甲强龙、电针与AECs联合治疗脊髓损伤极大的促进了5-羟色胺能神经纤维的再生,对SCI大鼠后肢运动功能的恢复有明显的促进作用.     

腺苷A2A受体拮抗剂改善帕金森病运动并发症

目的 探讨腺苷A2A受体拮抗剂8-(3-Chlorostyryl)caffeine(CSC)对左旋多巴诱发的运动并发症的行为学与细胞学影响.方法 通过6-羟基多巴(6-OHDA)立体定向注射至大鼠前脑内侧束建立帕金森病(PD)动物模型.模型成功大鼠接受每日2次左旋多巴甲酯(50 mg/kg加12.5mg/kg苄丝肼)腹腔注射,持续22 d.在第23天,运动并发症模型组大鼠(n=8)继续接受如上用药,用药组(n=8)在左旋多巴注射前注射腺苷A2A受体拮抗剂CSC,均用药至第29天.同时设假手术组(n=8)和PD对照组(n=8).评估旋转时间,并采用免疫组织化学法和蛋白印迹法观察和检测纹状体区腺苷A2A受体的表达情况.结果 左旋多巴长期用药诱发PD大鼠模型旋转反应时间缩短,同时模型组损伤侧纹状体区腺苷A2A受体的表达升高[阳性细胞指数(IOD),(11.55±2.75)×104>],较假手术组[IOD,(6.02±1.29)×10±]和PD组[IOD,(5.60±1.83)×10±]有统计学意义(F=33.31,P<0.05).CSC用药逆转了左旋多巴诱导的PD大鼠旋转时间的缩短,损伤侧纹状体区腺苷A2A受体的表达[IOD,(5.80±1.56)×104>]也下调至对照组和PD组水平.结论 腺苷A2A受体参与了左旋多巴诱发的运动并发症的发生,腺苷A2A受体拮抗剂可能是治疗PD运动并发症有前景的药物.     

生物素葡聚糖胺皮质脊髓束顺行示踪技术在大鼠脊髓损伤模型中的应用

目的探讨生物素葡聚糖胺(BDA)神经示踪技术及脊髓半横断损伤模型在大鼠脊髓损伤修复的实验研究中应用。方法采用成年Sprague-Dawley大鼠,分为脊髓致伤组(n=10)和致伤对照组(n=10)。致伤组动物在相当于T7椎板水平横行剪断脊髓的后2/3;对照组动物术中仅切除椎板,不切断脊髓。术后第15d,右侧开颅,用10?A示踪剂注入右侧的感觉运动区皮质内。2周后取出大脑和脊髓组织,采用自由漂乳法行BDA染色显影。术后实验动物功能测评采用BBB运动功能评分,所得数据采用Student'st-test进行统计学原理。结果(1)脊髓损伤组动物双后肢瘫痪,BBB运动功能评分明显低于损伤对照组,统计学比较差异十分显著(P<0.01);(2)BDA顺行示踪显示大脑皮层BDA注射区内见大脑皮层的锥体细胞及其发出的轴突呈阳性染色,BDA阳性染色的皮质脊髓束神经纤维在同侧中脑、桥脑及延髓的腹侧面行走,在锥体交叉后皮质脊髓束主要在对侧脊髓白质的后索中行走。在致伤组动物中,位于脊髓白质后索中的皮质脊髓束纤维在脊髓损伤处终止;对照组皮质脊髓束BDA染色可一直延伸至L1水平。结论大鼠半脊髓切断结合应用BDA顺行示踪技术可以对脊髓损伤后的神经修复状况进行可靠的形态学评判,是研究脊髓损伤后中枢神经纤维再生修复较为理想的动物模型     

川芎嗪对紫杉醇致神经病理性疼痛大鼠的疗效及其对坐骨神经中神经生长因子表达的影响

目的探讨川芎嗪对紫杉醇致神经病理性疼痛大鼠的疗效及其对坐骨神经中神经生长因子(NGF)表达的影响。方法成年雄性SD大鼠30只随机分为A组(对照组,n=6)、B组(n=8)、C组(n=8)、D组(n=8)。以首次给药为d1,实验前一日为d0,各组分别在d1、d3、d5、d7腹腔注入2.0 mg/(kg·d)紫杉醇。于d1~d14,B组腹腔注入川芎嗪200 mg/(kg·d),C组口服普瑞巴林3 mg/(kg·d),D组同时腹腔注射川芎嗪和口服普瑞巴林,剂量同B组、C组。分别于d0和d7、d12、d16、d20测定大鼠的机械缩足反射阈值(MWT)和热缩足潜伏期(TWL)。采用透射电镜观察各组大鼠坐骨神经的超微结构,用免疫组化法检测大鼠坐骨神经中NGF的表达。结果 4组大鼠d0时后肢MWT差异无统计学意义(均P0.05);D组大鼠d7~d20时后肢平均MWT与A组及C组相比明显升高(均P0.05);B、C组大鼠d12~d20时后肢MWT与A组相比明显升高(均P0.05);B组d12、d16时MWT明显高于C组(均P0.05)。4组大鼠d0时后肢TWL差异无统计学意义(均P0.05);B、C、D组大鼠d7~d20时后肢TWL与A组相比明显升高(均P0.05);D组大鼠d7~d20时后肢TWL与C组相比明显升高(均P0.05);C组大鼠d16、d20时后肢TWL与B组相比明显升高(均P0.05)。透射电镜下,A组大鼠的坐骨神经纤维髓鞘板层结构明显松散,呈网状,严重脱髓鞘;B组、C组、D组大鼠的坐骨神经纤维髓鞘板层结构较松散,明显脱髓鞘,但较A组明显减轻,且B组、D组脱髓鞘程度较C组更轻。与A组比较,B组和C组大鼠坐骨神经中NGF表达减少不明显(均P0.05),D组大鼠坐骨神经中NGF表达明显减少(P0.05)。结论川芎嗪能有效防治紫杉醇所致的大鼠神经病理性疼痛,疗效与普瑞巴林相似并有协同作用,作用机理可能是减低坐骨神经NGF的表达,减轻神经损伤。     

再程序化脂肪干细胞移植治疗大鼠脊髓损伤的机制

目的制备再程序化脂肪干细胞(ADSCs),并在体研究再程序化ADSCs移植入大鼠脊髓损伤模型后促进损伤脊髓神经功能恢复的作用和机制。方法体外培养、纯化和鉴定大鼠ADSCs,并利用慢病毒包装神经元生成素2(Ngn2)基因转染ADSCs制备再程序化干细胞。体内实验将48只雌性SD大鼠随机分成3组:SCI对照(A)组、单纯ADSCs移植(B)组和Ngn2-ADSCs移植(C)组。采用BBB评分评价大鼠运动功能,并通过HE染色、免疫组化和免疫荧光等方法检测脊髓组织学改变和相关蛋白的表达水平,进而观察实验动物脊髓功能恢复情况。结果 Ngn2-ADSCs移植组在运动功能评分、胶质瘢痕的形成、脊髓损伤后病理变化和分泌神经营养因子BDNF和VEGF蛋白含量明显优于其他组。结论 Ngn2-ADSCs移植后能有效地存活,并分化为神经细胞,抑制胶质瘢痕形成,减小脊髓损伤空洞,增加BDNF和VEGF表达,最终促进SCI大鼠的运动功能恢复,较单纯应用ADSCs能更好地促进SCI修复。     

PKH67示踪骨髓间充质干细胞迁移至损伤脊髓的实验研究

目的 探讨SCI后体外移植PKH67标记的BMSCs迁移至脊髓损伤处并进行增值和分化的动员情况。方法 用梯度离心法分离和培养出SD 大鼠第3代BMSCs,用绿色荧光染料PKH67标记; 采用钳夹法制备脊髓损伤(SCI)模型,分为实验组(n=15)、对照组(n=16)、假手术组(n=16); SCI术后对脊髓损伤组织进行HE染色,实验组和假手术组于术后尾静脉移植含有1×10⁷个BMSCs的0.5 mL生理盐水,对照组注射等量生理盐水; 分别于术后1、7、14、21 d观察大鼠后肢运动功能恢复情况,并做BBB分; 术后21 d后取脊髓组织,行免疫荧光染色,观察BMSCs的迁移,增值和分化情况。结果(1)镜下可见损伤脊髓形成的空洞、坏死及炎性细胞的增多;(2)共聚焦荧光显微镜观察显示术后21 d实验组脊髓损伤部位可见移植的BMSCs, 部分BMSCs呈GFAP和Nestin阳性表达; 假手术组无 PKH67标记的BMSCs; 实验组GFAP和Nestin阳性细胞数较对照组和假手术组明显增加(P<0.05),对照组较假手术组增加不明显(P>0.05);(3)实验组和对照组BBB评分均有增加,但实验组BBB评分显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论 PKH67示踪的BMSCs可迁移至损伤脊髓部位,进行增值并分化为神经元样细胞,促进损伤脊髓的神经功能恢复。     

胎鼠神经干细胞局部注射移植大鼠高位脊髓损伤缺损处：体感及运动诱发电位与后肢运动功能评价

背景：如何促进脊髓损伤后的神经再生和功能恢复始终是医学界一大难题,胚胎神经干细胞有利于神经元的存活,并能促进轴突再生。 目的：观察胚胎鼠神经干细胞局部注射移植治疗高位脊髓损伤大鼠的可行性,以神经电生理及后肢运动功能评分评价其效果。 设计、时间及地点：细胞学体内实验,于2007-06/2008-06在哈尔滨医科大学动物实验中心完成。 材料：健康成年雌性SD大鼠40只,随机分为生理盐水组、细胞移植组,20只/组。另取孕14 d的SD大鼠5只用于制备胚胎神经干细胞。 方法：生理盐水组、细胞移植组大鼠均建立高位脊髓损伤模型,取双侧第8~10对肋间神经各2 cm,交叉植入脊髓缺损处(近端白质与远端灰质、远端白质与近端灰质),细胞移植组局部注射鼠胚胎神经干细胞2×106个,生理盐水组局部注射等量无菌生理盐水。 主要观察指标：通过体感诱发电位和运动诱发电位的检测,观察神经电生理恢复情况;通过BDA顺行神经示踪,观察运动传导束恢复情况;BBB后肢运动功能评分结果。 结果：细胞移植组大鼠体感诱发电位及运动诱发电位的潜伏期、波幅明显优于生理盐水组(P < 0.01);细胞移植组大鼠在损伤区有较多BDA标记阳性神经纤维通过,而生理盐水组未见BDA标记阳性神经纤维;细胞移植组大鼠BBB后肢运动功能评分较生理盐水组明显提高(P < 0.01)。 结论：胎鼠神经干细胞局部注射可以较好地恢复高位脊髓损伤后的神经电生理及后肢运动功能。     

Analysis of Olfactory Ensheathing Glia Transplantation-Induced Repair of Spinal Cord Injury by Electrophysiological,Behavioral, and Histochemical Methods in Rats

This study examined the efficacy of transplanting olfactory ensheathing glia (OEG) in repairing spinal cord injury (SCI) using behavioral tests, retrograde labeling, as well as somatosensory and motor evoked potentials in rats. One week after surgery, motor function in OEG-treated rats was significantly superior to untreated controls (P < 0.05). Also, we found that up to 8 weeks following surgery to induce SCI, somatosensory and motor evoked potentials were found in the OEG-treated groups, but not in the transplantation and damage control groups. Retrograde labeling from the area distal to the SCI produced a higher number of labeled neurons in the ventrolateral division of red nucleus and motor cortex of OEG-treated rats compared to controls, which showed no retrograde labeling (P < 0.05). We believe that this study has important implications for characterizing the mechanisms of OEG transplantation as a treatment for SCI.     

神经生长因子联合神经干细胞移植治疗大鼠脊髓损伤

背景：单纯的神经干细胞移植对受损脊髓组织的修复作用并不理想,研究证实神经生长因子兼有神经元营养和促突起生长双重作用,可以有效的促进脊髓损伤后神经功能的恢复。 目的：观察神经干细胞移植联合应用神经生长因子对脊髓损伤后大鼠运动功能恢复的影响。 方法：SD大鼠42只,建立急性脊髓损伤模型后随机分成3组,伤后1周于损伤处分别注入培养液、单纯神经干细胞或神经干细胞联合神经生长因子。于伤后1,2,4,6,8周进行BBB评分和斜板实验等运动功能检测。伤后4周取材行病理切片苏木精-伊红染色及BrdU免疫组化染色,伤后8周取材行辣根过氧化物酶示踪观察及体感诱发电位观察神经电生理恢复情况。 结果与结论：伤后4周单纯神经干细胞组、神经干细胞联合神经生长因子组大鼠后肢运动功能均有较明显恢复,神经干细胞联合神经生长因子组较单纯神经干细胞组快,差异有显著性意义(P < 0.05)。培养液组亦有所恢复,但程度较轻。病理切片显示培养液组未见神经轴索通过。单纯神经干细胞组可见少量神经轴索样结构,神经干细胞联合神经生长因子组可见较多神经轴索样结构。BrdU的阳性细胞数及HRP阳性神经纤维数：神经干细胞联合神经生长因子组>单纯神经干细胞组>培养液组且各组之间差异有显著性意义(P < 0.01)。神经干细胞联合神经生长因子组大鼠体感诱发电位的潜伏期、波幅优于单纯神经干细胞组(P < 0.05),明显优于培养液组(P < 0.01)。结果提示神经干细胞移植对于后肢功能的恢复有促进作用,联合应用神经生长因子有协同效果。     

Recovery of function following grafting of human bone marrow-derived stromal cells into the injured spinal cord

This study evaluates functional recovery after transplanting human bone marrow-derived stromal cells (BMSCs) into contusion models of spinal cord injury (SCI). The authors used a high-throughput process to expand BMSCs and characterized them by flow cytometry, ELISA, and gene expression. They found that BMSCs secrete neurotrophic factors and cytokines with therapeutic potential for cell survival and axon growth. In adult immune-suppressed rats, mild, moderate, or severe contusions were generated using the MASCIS impactor. One week following injury, 0.5 to 1 x 106 BMSCs were injected into the lesioned spinal cord; control animals received vehicle injection. Biweekly behavioral tests included the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan Locomotor Rating Scale (BBB), exploratory rearing, grid walking, and thermal sensitivity. Animals receiving moderate contusions followed by BMSC grafts showed significant behavioral recovery in BBB and rearing tests when compared to controls. Animals receiving BMSC grafts after mild or severe contusion showed trends toward improved recovery. Immunocytochemistry identified numerous axons passing through the injury in animals with BMSC grafts but few in controls. BMSCS were detected at 2 weeks after transplantation; however, at 11 weeks very few grafted cells remained. The authors conclude that BMSCs show potential for repairing SCI. However, the use of carefully characterized BMSCs improved transplantation protocols ensuring BMSC, survival, and systematic motor and sensory behavioral testing to identify robust recovery is imperative for further improvement.     

Influence of isoflurane anesthesia on motor evoked potentials elicited by transcortical,brainstem, and spinal root stimulation

Abstract

Electrical stimulation over the motor cortexl base ofthe skulll and cervical spine motor roots was performed in 9 male rats (41 0 ± 86 g) before and after induction with isoflurane at 7 MAC concentration. The mean latency and amplitude of descending spinal evoked potential (OSEP) from spinal cord and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) from forearm muscles obtained after motor cortexl brainsteml and cervical root stimulations were calculated and compared. The electrical current intensity to elicit the MEPs after corticall brainsteml and spinal roots stimulation were 23.4 ± 7.61 7.0 ± 3.71 and 7.4 ± 0.8 mAl respectively. The brainstem stimulation activated descending motor pathways with a latency midway between that produced by electrical stimulation over the motor cOrtexI and by electrical stimulation over the cervical enlargements. The latency difference between cortical (8.8 ± 3.2 msec) and brainstem (5.7 ± 7.2 msec) stimulation was 3.7 ± 2.3 msec in all forearm extensor muscles. The latency difference between cervical (3.6 ± 0.9 msec) and brainstem stimulation (5.7 ± 7.2 msec) was 2.3 ± 7.7 msec for the same musclesl suggesting the brainstem stimulation activates the descending motor neurons at the level of cervicalmedullary junction. The amplitudes were 789 ± 7471 672 ± 3541 and 765 ± 389 µV for corticall brainsteml and cervical root stimulations. The inhalation anesthesia isoflurane at 7MAC (7.2%) completely abolished the cortical and brainstem MEPs within minutesl while the MEPs elicited by direct stimulation of the cervical spinal roots remained unchanged. Our results indicate synaptic-dependent MEPs elicited at motor cortex or brainstem levels are highly sensitive to isoflurane anesthesia. [Neural Res 1998; 20: 555-558]     

大鼠脊髓损伤后运动诱发电位的变化及与病理改变之比较

目的：观察脊髓损伤（SCI）对运动诱发电位（MEP）的影响,方法：27只大鼠以改良Allen法致伤脊髓,于损伤前和伤后6h内观察MEP变化,并测算脊髓出血坏死区相对面积比。结果：SCI后50gcf组和70gcf组动物MEP早成份波幅立即减低或消失,以后有所恢复。100gcf组大部分动物MEP波消失,脊髓损伤面积与伤后1h MEP最大波幅呈显相关。结论：MEP检查可以准确反映脊髓损伤程度。     

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells stimulated with low‐intensity pulsed ultrasound: Better choice of transplantation treatment for spinal cord injury

Stem cell transplantation, especially treatment with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), has been considered a promising therapy for the locomotor and neurological recovery of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. However, the clinical benefits of BMSCs transplantation remain limited because of the considerably low viability and inhibitory microenvironment. In our research, low‐intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), which has been widely applied to clinical applications and fundamental research, was employed to improve the properties of BMSCs. The most suitable intensity of LIPUS stimulation was determined. Furthermore, the optimized BMSCs were transplanted into the epicenter of injured spinal cord in rats, which were randomized into four groups: (a) Sham group (n = 10), rats received laminectomy only and the spinal cord remained intact. (b) Injury group (n = 10), rats with contused spinal cord subjected to the microinjection of PBS solution. (c) BMSCs transplantation group (n = 10), rats with contused spinal cord were injected with BMSCs without any priming. (d) LIPUS‐BMSCs transplantation group (n = 10), BMSCs stimulated with LIPUS were injected at the injured epicenter after contusion. Rats were then subjected to behavioral tests, immunohistochemistry, and histological observation. It was found that BMSCs stimulated with LIPUS obtained higher cell viability, migration, and neurotrophic factors expression in vitro. The rate of apoptosis remained constant. After transplantation of BMSCs and LIPUS‐BMSCs postinjury, locomotor function was significantly improved in LIPUS‐BMSCs transplantation group with higher level of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in the epicenter, and the expression of neurotrophic receptor was also enhanced. Histological observation demonstrated reduced cavity formation in LIPUS‐BMSCs transplantation group when comparing with other groups. The results suggested LIPUS can improve BMSCs viability and neurotrophic factors expression in vitro, and transplantation of LIPUS‐BMSCs could promote better functional recovery, indicating possible clinical application for the treatment of SCI.     

Combined transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and pedicled greater omentum promotes locomotor function and regeneration of axons after spinal cord injury in rats*★

BACKGROUND： According to previous studies, the neuroprotective effect of the pedicled greater omentum may be attributed to the secretion of neurotrophic factors and stimulation of angiogenesis. The neurotrophic factors released from the pedicled greater omentum, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin 3/4/5 could exert a neuroprotective effect on the damaged host neural and glial cells, and also could induce the transdifferentiation of transplanted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells （BMSCs） into neural cells. OBJECTIVE： Based on the functions of the omentum of neuro-protection and vascularization, we hypothesize that the transplantation of BMSCs and pedicled greater omentum into injured rat spinal cord might improve the survival rate and neural differentiation of transplanted BMSCs and consequently gain a better functional outcome. DESIGN, TIME AND SETFING： A randomized, controlled animal experiment. The experiments were carried out at the Department of Anatomy, the Secondary Military Medical University of Chinese PLA between June 2005 and June 2007. MATERIALS： Fifteen male inbred Wistar rats, weighing （200±20） g, provided by the Experimental Animal Center of the Secondary Military Medical University of Chinese PLA were used and met the animal ethical standards. Mouse anti-BrdU and mouse anti-NF200 monoclonal antibody were purchased from Boster, China. METHODS： Cell culture： We used inbred Sprague-Dawley rats to harvest bone marrow for culture of BMSCs and transplantation to avoid possible immune rejection. BMSCs were cultured via total bone marrow adherence. Experimental grouping and intervention： The rats were randomly divided into a control group, cell group and combined group, five rats per group. Rats in the control group underwent spinal cord injury （SCI） only, during which an artery clamp with pressure force of 30 g was employed to compress the spinal cord at the Tl0 level for 30 seconds to produce the SCI model. 5 μ L PBS containing 10^5 BMSCs was injected in