Transplantation of Neural Differentiated Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells into the Cochlea of an Auditory-neuropathy Guinea Pig Model

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of transplanted neural differentiated human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in a guinea pig model of auditory neuropathy. In this study, hMSCs were pretreated with a neural-induction protocol and transplanted into the scala tympani of the guinea pig cochlea 7 days after ouabain injury. A control model was made by injection of Hanks balanced salt solution alone into the scala tympani of the guinea pig cochlea 7 days after ouabain injury. We established the auditory neuropathy guinea pig model using 1 mM ouabain application to the round window niche. After application of ouabain to the round window niche, degeneration of most spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) without the loss of hair cells within the organ of Corti and increasing the auditory brain responses (ABR) threshold were found. After transplantation of neural differentiated hMSCs, the number of SGNs was increased, and some of the SGNs expressed immunoreactivity with human nuclear antibody under confocal laser scanning microscopy. ABR results showed mild hearing recovery after transplantation. Based on an auditory neuropathy animal model, these findings suggest that it may be possible to replace degenerated SGNs by grafting stem cells into the scala tympani.

Effect of alpha-tocopherol on isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats--electrocardiographic biochemical and histological evidences.

The effect of alpha-tocopherol (6 mg/100 g body wt, orally, daily for 90 days) pretreatment in isoproterenol (20 mg/100 g body wt, subcutaneously, twice at an interval of two days at the end of the alpha-tocopherol pretreatment) induced myocardial infarction was studied in rats. Isoproterenol administered rats showed electrocardiographic changes suggestive of myocardial infarction with marked ST segment elevation, Q waves appearance and a significant increase in heart rate. In isoproterenol administered rats, a significant decrease was observed in the activities of marker enzymes such as aspartate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase, lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase in heart and aorta with a significant increase in their activities in serum. The levels of lipid peroxides in terms of "TBA reactants" increased significantly in serum, heart and aorta on isoproterenol administration. The histology of heart and aorta showed marked fragmentation of muscle fibres and necrotic lesions in isoproterenol administered rats. alpha-Tocopherol pretreated rats showed a near normal ECG pattern, levels of lipid peroxides, activities of marker enzymes and a near normal histology of heart and aorta on isoproterenol administration.