title: Evaluation of the Functional Recovery in Sciatic Nerve Injury following the Co-transplantation of Schwann and Bone Marrow Stromal Stem Cells in Rat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transplantation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) or Schwann cells (SCs) can increase axonal regeneration in peripheral nerve injuries. Based on our previous investigations, the goal of the present work was to examine the individual and synergistic effects of the two different cell types in sciatic nerve injury. We pursued to evaluate the effects of BMSCs and SCs co-transplantation on the functional recovery after sciatic nerve injury in rat.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this experimental research, adult male Wistar rats (n = 32, 250-300g) were used, BMSCs and SCs were cultured, and the SCs were confirmed with anti S100 antibody. Rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 8 in each group): 1-control group: silicon tube filled with fibrin gel without cells; 2-BMSCs group: silicon tube filled with fibrin gel seeded with BMSCs; 3-SCs group: silicon tube filled with fibrin gel seeded with SCs and 4-co-transplantation group: silicone tube filled with fibrin gel seeded with BMSCs and SCs. The left sciatic nerve was exposed, a 10 mm segment removed, and a silicone tube interposed into this nerve gap. BMSCs and SCs were transplanted separately or in combination into the gap. BMSCs were labeled with anti-BrdU and SCs were labeled with DiI. After 12 weeks electromyographic and functional assessments were performed and analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Electromyographic and functional assessments showed a significant difference between the experimental groups and controls. Electromyography measures were significantly more favourable in SCs transplantation group as compared to BMSCs transplantation and co-transplantation groups (p < 0.05). Functional assessments showed no statistically significant difference among the BMSCs, SCs and co-transplantation groups (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transplantation of BMSCs and SCs separately or in combination have the potential to generate functional recovery after sciatic nerve injury in rat. The electromyography evaluation showed a greater improvement after SCs transplantation than BMSCs or the co-transplantation of BMSCs and SCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zarbakhsh
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moradi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Taghi
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Joghataei
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bahktiari
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine, and Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Korosh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mansouri
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Para medicine, Gilan University of Medical Sciences, Gilan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abedinzadeh
keywords: Bone Marrow Stromal Cells; Peripheral Nerve Regeneration; Schwann Cells; Transplantation