ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the therapeutic effects of estrogen-intervened endothelial progenitor cells( EPCs) transplantation on diabetic ischemic stroke rats. Methods PKH26-labeled diabetic EPCs and estrogen-intervened diabetic EPCs were injected into rats via the tail vein 24 h after cerebral ischemia. Cerebral ischemic volume, behavioral changes, ischemic site vascularization and homing of EPCs were measured 3 d after EPCs injection. Results Compared with diabetic ischemic rats, estrogen-intervened EPCs transplantation had reduced infarct volumes, improved behavioral scores and ischemic site revascularization and promoted homing of EPCs to sites of injury(P<0.05). Conclusion Estrogen-intervened EPCs transplantation had a better therapeutic effect on diabetic ischemic stroke by promoting EPCs homing to injury site and EPCs-medicated neovascularization .