title: Stem cell transplantation via the cochlear lateral wall for replacement of degenerated spiral ganglion neurons.
abstract: Spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) are poorly regenerated in the mammalian inner ear. Because of this, stem cell transplantation has been used to replace injured SGNs, and several studies have addressed this approach. However, the difficulty of delivering stem cells into the cochlea and encouraging their migration to Rosenthal's canal (RC), where the SGNs are located, severely restricts this therapeutic strategy. In this study, we attempted to establish a new stem cell transplantation route into the cochlea via the cochlear lateral wall (CLW). First, we tested the precision of this route by injecting Fluorogold into the CLW and next assessed its safety by mock surgeries. Then, using a degenerated SGN animal model, we transplanted neural stem cells (NSCs), derived from the olfactory bulb of C57BL/6-green fluorescent protein (GFP) mice, via the CLW route and examined the cells' distribution in the cochlea. We found the CLW transplantation route is precise and safe. In addition, NSCs migrated into RC with a high efficiency and differentiated into neurons in a degenerated SGN rat model after the CLW transplantation. This result revealed that the basilar membrane (BM) may have crevices permitting the migration of NSCs. The result of this study demonstrates a novel route for cell transplantation to the inner ear, which is important for the replacement of degenerated SGNs and may contribute to the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 17 Changle Western Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710032, China.
authors: Peng-Zhi
authors: PZ
authors: Zhang
authors: Ya
authors: Y
authors: He
authors: Xing-Wang
authors: XW
authors: Jiang
authors: Fu-Quan
authors: FQ
authors: Chen
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Chen
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Shi
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Chen
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Chen
authors: Xu
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Tao
authors: T
authors: Xue
authors: Yafei
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Wen-Juan
authors: WJ
authors: Mi
authors: Jian-Hua
authors: JH
authors: Qiu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D058948:Cell Tracking / Q000379:methods; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007267:Injections; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D055495:Neurogenesis; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010042:Ouabain / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013136:Spiral Ganglion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013266:Stilbamidines; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C049774:2-hydroxy-4,4'-diamidinostilbene, methanesulfonate salt; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D013266:Stilbamidines; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D010042:Ouabain