title: The role of neural precursor cells and self assembling peptides in nerve regeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cranial nerve injury involves loss of central neural cells in the brain stem and surrounding support matrix, leading to severe functional impairment. Therapeutically targeting cellular replacement and enhancing structural support may promote neural regeneration. We examined the combinatorial effect of neural precursor cells (NPC) and self assembling peptide (SAP) administration on nerve regeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nerve injury was induced by clip compression of the rodent spinal cord. SAPs were injected immediately into the injured cord and NPCs at 2 weeks post-injury. Behavioral analysis was done weekly and rats were sacrificed at 11 weeks post injury. LFB-H&E staining was done on cord tissue to assess cavitation volume. Motor evoked potentials (MEP) were measured at week 11 to assess nerve conduction and Kaplan Meier curves were created to compare survival estimates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NPCs and SAPs were distributed both caudal and rostral to the injury site. Behavioral analysis showed that SAP + NPC transplantation significantly improved locomotor score p <0.03) and enhanced survival (log rank test, p = 0.008) compared to control. SAP + NPC treatment also improved nerve conduction velocity (p = 0.008) but did not affect cavitation volume (p = 0.73).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combinatorial NPC and SAP injection into injured nerve tissue may enhance neural repair and regeneration.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Gordon S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kajana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Satkunendrarajah
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Development, Toronto Western Research Institute and Spinal Program, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Michael.Fehlings@uhn.on.ca.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fehlings
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor; D005260:Female; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides