title: Neural stem cell transplantation in experimental contusive model of spinal cord injury.
abstract: Spinal cord injury is a devastating clinical condition, characterized by a complex of neurological dysfunctions. Animal models of spinal cord injury can be used both to investigate the biological responses to injury and to test potential therapies. Contusion or compression injury delivered to the surgically exposed spinal cord are the most widely used models of the pathology. In this report the experimental contusion is performed by using the Infinite Horizon (IH) Impactor device, which allows the creation of a reproducible injury animal model through definition of specific injury parameters. Stem cell transplantation is commonly considered a potentially useful strategy for curing this debilitating condition. Numerous studies have evaluated the effects of transplanting a variety of stem cells. Here we demonstrate an adapted method for spinal cord injury followed by tail vein injection of cells in CD1 mice. In short, we provide procedures for: i) cell labeling with a vital tracer, ii) pre-operative care of mice, iii) execution of a contusive spinal cord injury, and iv) intravenous administration of post mortem neural precursors. This contusion model can be utilized to evaluate the efficacy and safety of stem cell transplantation in a regenerative medicine approach.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan.
authors.forename: Stephana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carelli
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan.
authors.forename: Toniella
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Giallongo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gerace
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan.
authors.forename: Anthea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Angelis
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University.
authors.forename: Michele D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Basso
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Di Giulio
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan; alfredo.gorio@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gorio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*