Olfactory ensheathing glia graft in combination with FK506 administration promote repair after spinal cord injury.
The aim of this study was to determine whether a combination of olfactory ensheathing cell (OEC) graft with the administration of FK506, two experimental approaches that have been previously reported to exert protective/regenerative effects after spinal cord injury, promotes synergic restorative effects after complete or partial spinal cord injuries. In partial spinal cord injury, combination of an OEC graft and FK506 reduced functional deficits evaluated by the BBB score, motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) and H reflex tests, diminished cavitation, astrogliosis and increased sparing/regeneration of raphespinal fibers compared to untreated and single-treatment groups of rats. After complete spinal cord transection, the combined treatment significantly improved functional outcomes, promoted axonal regeneration caudal to the lesion, and diminished astrogliosis compared only to non-transplanted animals. Slightly, but non-significant, better functional and histological results were found in OEC-grafted animals treated with FK506 than in those given saline after spinal cord transection. Nevertheless, the combined treatment increased the percentage of rats that recovered MEPs and promoted a significant reduction in astrogliosis. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that OEC grafts combined with FK506 promote additive repair of spinal cord injuries to those exerted by single treatments, the effect being more remarkable when the spinal cord is partially lesioned.
López-Vales
Rubèn
R
Group of Neuroplasticity and Regeneration, Institute of Neuroscience and Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.
Forés
Joaquim
J
Navarro
Xavier
X
Verdú
Enrique
E
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D016380:Brain Tissue Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000379:methods*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation*; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000166:cytology; D051381:Rats; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016559:Tacrolimus