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Collagen containing neonatal astrocytes stimulates regrowth of injured fibers and promotes modest locomotor recovery after spinal cord injury
Author(s) -
Joosten E.A.J.,
Veldhuis W.B.,
Hamers F.P.T.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.20088
Subject(s) - spinal cord , transplantation , spinal cord injury , neurofilament , lesion , glial scar , implant , astrocyte , medicine , anatomy , neuroglia , pathology , biology , central nervous system , neuroscience , surgery , immunohistochemistry
The use of collagen as a vehicle to transplant neonatal astroglial cells into the lesioned spinal cord of the adult rat allows a precise application of these cells into the lesion gap and minimizes the migration of the transplanted cells. This approach might lead to anatomical and functional recovery. In the present study, 20 adult female Wistar rats were subjected to a dorsal hemisection at thoracic spinal cord levels. Cultured cortical neonatal rat astrocytes were transplanted into the lesion with collagen as a vehicle (N = 10). Prior to transplantation, the cultured astroglial cells were labelled with fast blue. Control rats received collagen implants only (N = 10). During 1 month of survival time, functional recovery of all rats was continuously monitored. Histological data showed that the prelabelled astroglial cells survived transplantation and were localized predominantly in the collagen implant. Virtually no fast blue‐labelled GFAP‐positive astroglial cells migrated out of the implant into the adjacent host spinal cord. The presence of transplanted neonatal astroglial cells resulted in a significant increase in the number of ingrowing neurofilament‐positive fibers (including anterogradely labeled corticospinal axons) into the implant. Ingrowing fibers were closely associated with the transplanted astroglial cells. The implantation of neonatal astroglial cells did result in modest temporary improvements of locomotor recovery as observed during open‐field locomotion analysis (BBB subscore) or during crossing of a walkway (catwalk). © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.