title: Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Combined With a Honeycomb Collagen Sponge Facilitate Neurite Elongation In Vitro and Neural Restoration in the Hemisected Rat Spinal Cord.
abstract: In the last decade, researchers and clinicians have reported that transplantation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) promotes functional recovery after brain or spinal cord injury (SCI). However, an appropriate scaffold designed for the injured spinal cord is needed to enhance the survival of transplanted BMSCs and to promote nerve regeneration. We previously tested a honeycomb collagen sponge (HC), which when applied to the transected spinal cord allowed bridging of the gap with nerve fibers. In this study, we examined whether the HC implant combined with rat BMSCs increases nerve regeneration in vitro and enhances functional recovery in vivo. We first evaluated the neurite outgrowth of rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) explants cultured on HC with or without BMSCs in vitro. Regeneration of neurites from the DRGs was increased by BMSCs combined with HC scaffolds. In the in vivo study, 3-mm-long HC scaffolds with or without BMSCs were implanted into the hemisected rat thoracic spinal cord. Four weeks after the procedure, rats implanted with HC scaffolds containing BMSCs displayed better motor and sensory recovery than those implanted with HC scaffolds only. Histologically, more CGRP-positive sensory fibers at the implanted site and 5-HT-positive serotonergic fibers contralateral to the implanted site were observed in spinal cords receiving BMSCs. Furthermore, more rubrospinal neurons projected distally to the HC implant containing BMSCs. Our study indicates that the application of BMSCs in a HC scaffold in the injured spinal cord directly promoted sensory nerve and rubrospinal tract regeneration, thus resulting in functional recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Spinal Surgery, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Madoka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onuma-Ukegawa
authors.forename: Kush
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bhatt
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirai
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaburagi
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sotome
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wakabayashi
authors.forename: Shizuko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ichinose
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shinomiya
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okawa
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Enomoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D003094:Collagen; D005260:Female; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012038:Regeneration; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen