title: An experimental model for the transplantation of fetal central nervous system cells to the injured spinal cord in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traumatic spinal cord injury is one of the most disabling conditions occurring in man and thus stimulates a strong interest in its histopathological, biochemical, and functional changes, primarily as we search for preventive and therapeutic methods.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop an experimental model for transplantation of cells from the fetal rat central nervous system to the site of an injured spinal cord of an adult rat in which the transplanted cells survive and become integrated. This experimental model will facilitate investigations of factors that promote regeneration and functional recovery after spinal cord trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen adult Wistar rats underwent laminectomy, and an spinal cord lesion was made with microdissection. Fetal spinal cord tissue was then transplanted to the site of the injury. The rats were monitored over a 48-hour period, and then their vertebral column was completely removed for histological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 60% of transplanted rats, the fetal tissue at the injured site remained viable in the site of the lesion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tarcísio Eloy Pessoa
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: de Barros Filho
authors.forename: Reginaldo Perilo
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tsanaclis
authors.forename: Erika Meirelles Kalil Pessoa
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: de Barros
authors.forename: Alexandre Fogaça
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Cristante
authors.forename: Ricardo Moreira
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Palma
authors.forename: Cristian Vilela
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: Raphael Martus
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Marcon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D016332:Fetal Tissue Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009417:Nerve Tissue; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000637:transplantation*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation