Neuronal cell reconstruction with umbilical cord blood cellsi n the Bbain hypoxia-ischemia

Brain hypoxia-ischemia is a human neonatal injury that is considered a candidate for stem cell therapy. The possible therapeutic potential of human umbilical cord blood [HUCB] stem cells was evaluated in 14-day-old rats subjected to the right common carotid occlusion, a model of neonatal brain hypoxiaischemia. Seven days after hypoxia-ischemia, rats received either saline solution or 4 × 105 HUCB cells i.v. Rats in control group did not receive any injection. After two weeks, rats were assessed using two motor tests. Subsequently, rats were scarified for histological and immunohistochemical analyses. Our immunohistochemical findings demonstrated selective migration of the injected HUCB cells to the ischemic area as well as reduction in infarct volume. Seven days after surgery, we found significant recovery in the behavioral performance in the test group [12.7 +/- 0.3] compared to the sham group [10.0 +/- 0.05], a trend which continued to day 14 [15.3 +/- 0.3 vs. 11.9 +/- 0.5, P<0.05]. Postural and motor asymmetries at days 7 and 14 in the test group showed a significant decrease in the percentage of right turns in comparison to the sham group [75% and 59% vs. 97% and 96%, P<0.05]. The results show the potential of HUCB stem cells in reduction of neurologic deficits associated with neonatal hypoxia-ischemia.

effects of nigella sativa hydro-alcoholic extract on memory and brain tissues oxidative damage after repeated seizures in rats

Regarding the therapeutic properties of Nigella sativa [NS], the effects of the plant hydro–alcoholic extract on learning, memory and brain tissues oxidative damage were investigated in penthylenetetrazole [PTZ]-induced repeated seizures. There were 4 experimental groups including: 1- control group; received saline, 2- PTZ group; received saline and PTZ [50 mg/Kg, i.p], 3- PTZ-NS 200 and 4- PTZ-NS 400 ; received 200 and 400 mg/Kg of NS extract respectively, before PTZ injection in 5 consecutive days. Seizure scores were lower in PTZ–NS 200 and 400, furthermore the seizure onset latencies were higher in these groups than PTZ group [P<0.05 and P<0.01]. In Morris water maze, the time spent in target quadrant by PTZ group was lower than control group [P<0.05]; while, 400 mg/Kg of the extract increased it [P<0.01]. In the passive avoidance test, delay time to enter the dark by PTZ group was lower than control at 1 and 24 hours after training [P<0.01 - P<0.001]; while, 400 mg/Kg of the extract increased it [P<0.05]. The total thiol concentration in hippocampal and cortical tissues of PTZ group was reduced while, MDA concentration was higher than control [p<0.05 - p<0.001]. Administration of the extract increased the total thiol and decreased the MDA concentrations [p<0.01 - p<0.001]. It is concluded that the hydro-alcoholic extract of NS possess beneficial effects on learning and memory impairments in repeated seizures model which is accompanied by antioxidant effects in the brain