Repair effect of Schwann cells modified by microgene pSVPoMcat on injured spinal cord in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the repair effect of Schwann cells (SCs) modified by microgene pSVPoMcat on injured spinal cord in rats.


METHODS
Semi-transection injury at the level of T(8) of spinal cord was made with cutting method on 120 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Then 40 rats implanted with SCs modified by microgene pSVPoMcat were taken as Group A, 40 rats implanted with simple SCs as Group B and the other 40 rats were taken as the control group (Group C). The functional recovery of the rats was observed through combined behavioral score (CBS) and cortical somatosensory evoked potential (CSEP), and the expression of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was measured with in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. At 3 months after operation, the rats were examined with magnetic resonance image (MRI), and the neurofilaments (NF) of the axons were stained with immunohistochemical method.


RESULTS
GFAP expression in Group A was significantly lower than that of the other 2 groups. MRI showed that the spinal signals in the injured area recovered fundamentally in Group A, didn't recover in Group B and malacia focus was found in Group C, which was same as the results of NF staining. Wave amplitudes in incubation periods in Group A and Group B tended to recover. It recovered to the normal level in Group A, which was similar to the results of CBS.


CONCLUSIONS
SCs modified by microgene pSVPoMcat can inhibit GFAP expression, improve the growth of the axons and the functional recovery of neurons after spinal cord injury.
Chen
Ligang
L
Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Chengdu Military Command, China. piaoyx@sima.com
Gao
Lida
L
Lu
Min
M
Mao
Boyong
B
Zeng
Fanjun
F
Li
Kaihui
K
Piao
Yongxu
Y
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein