Intrastriatal implants of polymer-encapsulated PC12 cells: effects on motor function in aged rats.
1. The feasibility of ameliorating the motor deficits in aged rats was evaluated in animals receiving polymer-encapsulated PC12 cells. 2. Motor coordination and balance was evaluated in young (5-6 month) and aged (24-25 month) rats. Compared to the young animals, the aged animals fell more rapidly from a rotating rod and were unable to maintain their balance on a series of wooden beams of varying widths. 3. Following baseline testing, aged animals received either no implant, empty capsules or PC12 cell-loaded capsules implanted bilaterally into the striatum. 4. Three weeks following surgery, animals were re-tested and a significant improvement in balance on the rotorod and wooden beams was observed in those aged animals receiving PC12 cell-loaded capsules. No improvements or decrements in performance were observed in those animals receiving empty. Histological analysis revealed the presence of surviving tyrosine hydroxylase-positive PC12 cells randomly distributed within the capsules.
Emerich
D F
DF
CytoTherapeutics, Inc., Providence, RI.
McDermott
P E
PE
Krueger
P M
PM
Winn
S R
SR
D000818:Animals; D002614:Chelating Agents; D002686:Chitin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D048271:Chitosan; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D017072:Neostriatum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
D002614:Chelating Agents; D002686:Chitin; D048271:Chitosan; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004298:Dopamine