Schwann cells transplantation promoted and the repair of brain stem injury in rats / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the possibility of Schwann cells transplantation to promote the repair of injured brain stem reticular structure in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Schwann cells originated from sciatic nerves of 1 to 2-day-old rats were expanded and labelled by BrdU in vitro, transplanted into rat brain stem reticular structure that was pre-injured by electric needle stimulus. Immunohistochemistry and myelin-staining were used to investigate the expression of BrdU, GAP-43 and new myelination respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>BrdU positive cells could be identified for up to 8 months and their number increased by about 23%, which mainly migrated toward injured ipsilateral cortex. The GAP-43 expression reached its peak in 1 month after transplantation and was significantly higher than that in the control group. New myelination could be seen in destructed brain stem areas.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The transplantation of Schwann cells can promote the restoration of injured brain stem reticular structure.</p>