RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of sodium alginate gels on marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation for repair of spinal cord injury (SCI) in mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In the present study, effects of different sterilization methods and concentrations of sodium alginate gels were examined. Marrow mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs) were isolated from mice and cultured. Cells were cultured with sodium alginate gels and MTT assay was applied to determine the cell viability. Mice spinal cord injury was induced by spinal cord transection. mMSCs were transplanted into the cavity of injured spinal cord with sodium alginate gels. The effects of sodium alginate gel were assessed by BMS scales and immunofluorescence staining for NF-200.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with liquid form, solid form sodium alginate gel prepared with high pressure vapor sterilization had a better effect on cell viability. SCI mice treated with 10 % sodium alginate gel and mMSCs achieved higher score in BMS scale as well as higher expression of NF-200 compared with the untreated SCI group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sodium alginate gel prepared with solid form sterilization induces mMSCs proliferation and thus can be used as the carrier of stem cell in treatment of SCI.</p>