title: Edaravone combined with Schwann cell transplantation may repair spinal cord injury in rats.
abstract: Edaravone has been shown to delay neuronal apoptosis, thereby improving nerve function and the microenvironment after spinal cord injury. Edaravone can provide a favorable environment for the treatment of spinal cord injury using Schwann cell transplantation. This study used rat models of complete spinal cord transection at T9. Six hours later, Schwann cells were transplanted in the head and tail ends of the injury site. Simultaneously, edaravone was injected through the caudal vein. Eight weeks later, the PKH-26-labeled Schwann cells had survived and migrated to the center of the spinal cord injury region in rats after combined treatment with edaravone and Schwann cells. Moreover, the number of PKH-26-labeled Schwann cells in the rat spinal cord was more than that in rats undergoing Schwann cell transplantation alone or rats without any treatment. Horseradish peroxidase retrograde tracing revealed that the number of horseradish peroxidase-positive nerve fibers was greater in rats treated with edaravone combined withSchwann cells than in rats with Schwann cell transplantation alone. The results demonstrated that lower extremity motor function and neurophysiological function were better in rats treated with edaravone and Schwann cells than in rats with Schwann cell transplantation only. These data confirmed that Schwann cell transplantation combined with edaravone injection promoted the regeneration of nerve fibers of rats with spinal cord injury and improved neurological function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Nankai, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Shu-Quan
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Orthopedic Hospital, Second Hospital, Clinical Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Min-Fei
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Nankai, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Piao
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Nankai, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Nankai, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Ji-Hai
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Gang
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Foot Surgery and Reparative & Reconstructive Surgery Center, Orthopedic Hospital, Second Hospital, Clinical Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: Schwann cells; cell transplantation; edaravone; electrophysiological function; motor function; nerve regeneration; neural regeneration; spinal cord injury