title: Cotransplantation of neuroepithelial stem cells with interstitial cells of Cajal improves neuronal differentiation in a rat aganglionic model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent advances have raised the possibility of treating Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) with transplanted neural stem cells. Although these cells have been shown to migrate and differentiate after transplantation, the restoration of intestinal motility by grafted cells is also mediated via the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs). We therefore aimed to evaluate the effect of cografting with ICC on neural stem cells after transplanted into aganglionic bowel.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neuroepithelial stem cells (NESCs) and ICCs were isolated from neural tube of embryonic rat (embryonic day 11.5) and colon of neonatal rats respectively. After cotransplantation into the benzalkonium chloride-induced rat aganglionic colon, survival and differentiation of the implanted cells were assessed 8weeks posttransplantation using immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Colonic motility was assessed by measuring the changes of intraluminal pressure responding to inflating stimulation and the response of muscle strips to electrical field stimulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cotransplantation with ICC accelerated neuronal differentiation compared with transplantation of NESCs alone. Moreover, the contractile response to inflation and EFS-induced reaction of the colon after coimplantation were successfully evoked.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that reconstitution of elements in the intestinal environment such as ICC enhances efficacy of NESCs therapy. This may aid development of a stem cell-based treatment for HSCR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong University, 324 Jingwu Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Lijuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Taian City Central Hospital, 29 Longtan Road, Taian City, Shandong Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong University, 324 Jingwu Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Medical School of Shandong University, 324 Jingwu Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong University, 324 Jingwu Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, PR China. Electronic address: shandawrd@163.com.
authors.forename: Rongde
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, Shandong, PR China.
authors.forename: Yingmao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D006627:Hirschsprung Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D056885:Interstitial Cells of Cajal / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods
keywords: Enteric nervous system; Hirschsprung's disease; Interstitial cells of Cajal; Intestinal motility; Neuroepithelial stem cells