Tanshinone II combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation promotes nerve regeneration following cerebral infarction / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that tanshinone II can improve microcirculation, dilate cerebral blood vessels, increase cerebral blood flow, reduce infarct size, and improve brain function after cerebral metabolic disorder. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of tanshinone II combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation on nerve regeneration folowing cerebral infarction in rats. METHODS:Rat models of acute cerebral infarction were prepared using the thread occlusion method and then given tanshinone II combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation (combined group), bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation (cel transplantation group), and no treatment (model group), respectively. Neuromotor function was assessed using Longa scores. Expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene around the infarction region was detected using RT-PCR. Cel apoptosis was detected using TUNEL. Immunohistochemistry staining was used to determine peri-cortex Nogo-A and NgR protein expression at the infarction region. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Longa scores, apoptotic index, and expression of Nogo-A and NgR proteins exhibited significant differences among three groups (P< 0.05) as folows combined group < cel transplantation group < model group. Conversely, the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene was highest in the combined group successively folowed by the cel transplantation group and model group (P< 0.05). These data show that tanshinone II combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation accelerate the recovery of neurologic function and promote nerve regeneration after cerebral infarction by incresing mRNA expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor.