Different sources of olfactory ensheathing cells repairs spinal cord injury

Rui CHANG; Xiaolong YIN; Yan CHENG

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Studies showed cellular adhesion molecule and neurotrophic factor secreted from olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) could protect the spinal neurons and promote the regeneration of spinal axon.

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the competence to repair spinal cord injury between olfactory mucosa OECs and olfactory bulb OECs. DESIGN, TIME AND

SETTING:

Randomized control animal experiment was performed in the central laboratory of Xidian Group Hospital between June 2007 and June 2008. MATERIALS Twelve male SD rats were randomized selected and divided into experiment group (n=6, 23 months old) and control group (n=6, 3 months old). They were used for in vitro culture and purification of OECs; other 30 SD rats were randomized into three groups of 10 rats each neonatal rat olfactory bulb OECs transplantation group, normal olfactory mucosa OECs transplantation group and blank control group.

METHODS:

Spinal cord injury models were produced in 30 rats, which were transplanted with the neonatal rat or SD rat OECs cultured in vitro. No transplant was given in the control group. MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

At 4 and 8 weeks postoperation, the Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) score for nerve function, the evoked potential of legs and the histopathological diversify of injured spinal cord.

RESULTS:

Seven rats died dudng the experiment process, and the death rate was similar between groups. At 4 and 8 weeks postoperation, there was no significant difference in the BBB scores between neonatal rat olfactory bulb OECs transplantation group and normal olfactory mucosa OECs transplantation group (P > 0.05), which were both significantly higher than blank control group (P < 0.001); the BBB scores in two transplantation groups were higher at 8 weeks than at 4 weeks (P < 0.01 ). At 4 weeks postoperaUon, no animal was shown to elicit motion evoked potential, but it was present in two transplantation groups at 8 weeks, with no significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05). The blank control group had still no motion evoked potential (P < 0.001 ). At 8 weeks postoperation, more cell infiltrations were found in the injured spinal cord of two transplantation groups, while few in the control group.

CONCLUSION:

Both OECs dissociated from olfactory bulb and olfactory mucosa have the same ability to repair the injured spinal cord, and their effect is similar.