Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhance Nerve Regeneration in a Rat Sciatic Nerve Repair and Hindlimb Transplant Model

• DOI: 10.1038/srep31306
• Publication Date: 2016-08-11T09:48:56Z
• Authors: Damon S. Cooney; Eric G. Wimmers; Zuhaib Ibrahim; Johanna Grahammer; Joani M. Christensen; Gabriel A. Brat; Lehao W. Wu; Karim A. Sarhane; Joseph Lopez; Christoph Wallner; Georg J. Furtmüller; Nance Yuan; John Pang; Kakali Sarkar; W. P. Andrew Lee; Gerald Brandacher
• Keywords: Hindlimb; Neuroregeneration; Systemic administration

This study investigates the efficacy of local and intravenous mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) administration to augment neuroregeneration in both a sciatic nerve cut-and-repair rat hindlimb transplant model. Bone marrow-derived MSCs were harvested purified from Brown-Norway (BN) rats. Sciatic transections repairs performed three groups Lewis (LEW) rats: negative controls (n = 4), (epineural) injection systemic (intravenous) 4). Syngeneic (LEW-LEW) 4) allogeneic (BN-LEW) transplants assessed for after or MSC treatment. Rats undergoing treated with either had significant improvement speed recovery compound muscle action potential amplitudes axon counts when compared controls. Similarly, rats exhibited significantly increased counts. treatment resulted improved regeneration following transplants. Systemic more pronounced effect on electromotor while was effective at increasing fiber counts, suggesting different targets action. Local injections improve pace degree injury transplantation.