RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Negative consequences of chemotherapy on brain function were suggested and were addressed in animal models as the clinical phenomenon of chemobrain .It was postulated that adriamycin (ADR) induce changes in behaviour and in brain morphology. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs) could be induced to differentiate into neuron-like cells .The present study aimed at investigating the possible therapeutic effect of HUCMSC therapy on adriamycin induced chemobrain in rat. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty five female albino rats were divided into control group, ADR group where rats were given single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 5 mg/kg ADR. The rats were sacrificed two and four weeks following confirmation of brain damage. In stem cell therapy group, rats were injected with HUCMSCs following confirmation of brain damage and sacrificed two and four weeks after therapy. Brain sections were exposed to histological, histochemical, immunohistochemical and morphometric studies. In ADR group, multiple shrunken neurons exhibiting dark nuclei and surrounded by vacuoles were seen .In response to SC therapy ,multiple normal pyramidal nerve cells were noted. The area of shrunken nerve cells exhibiting dark nuclei, Prussion blue and CD105 positive cells were significantly different in ADR group in comparison to SC therapy group. CONCLUSIONS: ADR induced progressive duration dependant cerebral degenerative changes. These changes were ameliorated following cord blood human mesenchymal stem cell therapy. A reciprocal relation was recorded between the extent of regeneration and the existence of undifferentiated mesenchymal stem cells.