Open AccessEffects of Administration Route on Migration and Distribution of Neural Progenitor Cells Transplanted into Rats with Focal Cerebral Ischemia, an MRI Study
Author(s) -
Lian Li,
Quan Jiang,
Li Zhang,
Zheng Gang Zhang,
Qingjiang Li,
Swayamprava Panda,
Mei Lü,
James R. Ewing,
Michael Chopp
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.167
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1559-7016
pISSN - 0271-678X
DOI - 10.1038/jcbfm.2009.238
Subject(s) - transplantation , medicine , progenitor cell , ischemia , neural stem cell , lesion , systemic administration , parenchyma , distribution (mathematics) , pathology , magnetic resonance imaging , middle cerebral artery , stem cell , in vivo , radiology , biology , mathematical analysis , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , mathematics
We tested the hypotheses that administration routes affect the migration and distribution of grafted neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in the ischemic brain and that the ischemic lesion plays a role in mediating the grafting process. Male Wistar rats (n=41) were subjected to 2-h middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo), followed 1 day later by administration of magnetically labeled NPCs. Rats with MCAo were assigned to one of three treatment groups targeted for cell transplantation intra-arterially (IA), intracisternally (IC), or intravenously (IV). MRI measurements consisting of T2-weighted imaging and three-dimensional (3D) gradient echo imaging were performed 24 h after MCAo, 4 h after cell injection, and once a day for 4 days. Prussian blue staining was used to identify the labeled cells, 3D MRI to detect cell migration and distribution, and T2 map to assess lesion volumes. Intra-arterial (IA) administration showed significantly increased migration, a far more diffuse distribution pattern, and a larger number of transplanted NPCs in the target brain than IC or IV administration. However, high mortality with IA delivery (IA: 41%; IC: 17%; IV: 8%) poses a serious concern for using this route of administration. Animals with smaller lesions at the time of transplantation have fewer grafted cells in the parenchyma.