title: Transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells promotes axonal regeneration and functional recovery of peripheral nerve lesion in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) hold promise for cell therapy because they may promote regeneration of the central nervous system. However, OECs have been less studied after peripheral nerve injury (PNI). The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of OEC transplantation on a severe sciatic nerve (SN) lesion.
  
  
  METHODS
  OECs were injected in rats after section and 2-cm resection of the SN.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three months after therapy, muscle strength and morphometric studies showed complete restoration of the contractile properties of the gastrocnemius and complete repair of the SN. Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR studies indicated an increase in the presence of neurotrophic factors. Interestingly, tracking of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-positive OECs showed that no OECs were present in the SN.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate that, after severe PNI, OECs have remarkable potential for nerve regeneration by creating a favorable microenvironment.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Surgery Laboratory, Groupe de Recherche sur le Handicap Ventilatoire, UPRES EA 3830, European Institute for Peptide Research (IFRMP 23), Institute for Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Rouen, 22 Boulevard Gambetta, 76183 Rouen, France. nicolas_guerout_76@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guérout
authors.forename: Célia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duclos
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Drouot
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Abramovici
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bon-Mardion
authors.forename: Yann
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lacoume
authors.forename: Laetitia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jean
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Boyer
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Marie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*