RESUMO
Objective: Adipose derived stem cells [ASCs] secrete numerous neurotrophic factors and cytokines in conditioned medium [CM], which protect neurons by its antioxidative and trophic effects. This research assesses the neuroprotective effect of ASCCM on neurotrophins genes expressions and tyrosine hydroxylase positive [TH+] cell density in male Wistar rats lesioned by 6-hydroxydopamine [6-OHDA]
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, the groups consisted of lesioned and sham rats with unilateral injections of 20 microg of 6-OHDA neurotoxin and phosphate buffered saline [PBS] into the striatum, respectively. Another groups received intravenous injections of 3×106 cells [ASCs group], 500 microl of CM [ASC-CM group] or medium [alpha-minimal essential medium [alpha-MEM] group]]. All rats underwent evaluations with the rotarod and apomorphine-induced rotation tests at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks post-injection. At 8 weeks we sacrificed some of the animals for real-time polymerase chain reaction [PCR] analysis, and evaluation of TH+ cell counts
Results: We observed a significant decrease in contralateral turns to the lesions in the ASCs and ASC-CM groups compared to the neurotoxin lesioned or alpha-MEM groups at 8 weeks post transplantation. Cell and CM- injected rats showed a significant increase of staying on the rotarod compared to the lesion or alpha-MEM groups. Cell and CM-treated rats showed significant increases in the NGF and NT3 genes, respectively, compared with the lesion group. Both treated groups showed significant increases in BDNF gene expression and TH+ cell density
Conclusion: The results suggested that ASCs and ASC-CM protected dopaminergic neurons through the expressions of neurotrophin genes