Chronic transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells promotes partial recovery after complete spinal cord transection in the rat.
The goal of this study was to ascertain whether olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) were able to promote axonal regeneration and functional recovery when transplanted 45 days after complete transection of the thoracic spinal cord in adult rats. OECs promoted partial restitution of supraspinal pathways evaluated by motor evoked potentials and modest recovery of hindlimb movements. In addition, OEC grafts reduced lumbar reflex hyperexcitability from the first month after transplantation. Histological results revealed that OECs facilitated corticospinal and raphespinal axons regrowth through the injury site and into the caudal spinal cord segments. Interestingly, raphespinal but not corticospinal fibers regenerated long distances through the gray matter and reached the lower lumbar segments (L5) of the spinal cord. However, delayed OEC grafts failed to reduce posttraumatic astrogliosis. In conclusion, the beneficial effects found in the present study further support the use of OECs for treating chronic spinal cord injuries.
López-Vales
Rubèn
R
Group of Neuroplasticity and Regeneration, Institute of Neuroscience and Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
Forés
Joaquim
J
Navarro
Xavier
X
Verdú
Enrique
E
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D016380:Brain Tissue Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005911:Gliosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000502:physiology; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012021:Reflex, Abnormal / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome