RESUMO
Objective To observe the effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) transplantation on the expression of nerve growth factor(NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) in the rat spinal cord with spina bifida,and to investigate the change in cell apoptosis after BMSC transplantation.Methods Spina bifida aperta was induced with a single intragastric injection of all-trans retinoic acid,then the BMSC was microinjected into spina cord of rat embryos on embryo 16 d(E16),BDNF and NGF were tested by immunofluorescence staining,and TUNEL assay were used for investigating cell apoptosis.Results Transplantation of BMSC enhanced the expression of NGF and BDNF,and reduced cell apoptosis in the defective site of spinal cord.Conclusion The transplantation of BMSC may improve the microenvironment of spinal cord and repair the neurological defects by enhancing the expression of neurotrophic factor and reducing the cell apoptosis.