Effect of intrathecal transplantation of different quantities of neural stem cells on neuropathic pain in rats / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of intrathecal (IT) transplantation of different quantities of neural stem cells (NSCs) on neuropathic pain (NP) in rats.Methods Eighty-four adult pathogen-free male SD rats weighing 150-180 g were randomly divided into 7 groups ( n = 12 each) group sham operation (S group) , NP group, NP+ NSCs 103 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 groups (N1-5 groups) . NP was induced by partial transection of right sciatic nerve. NSCs were transplanted into subarachnoid space in N1-5 groups. Paw withdrawal threshold to mechanical stimulation (MWT) and paw withdrawal latency to nociceptive thermal stimuli (TWL) were measured at 1 day before (baseline) and 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days after operation. Brain derived neurotrophic factor ( BDNF) expression in spinal dorsal horn and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) was detected by immuno-histochemistry and RT-PCR on the 7th and 21st day after operation. Results Partial transection of the sciatic nerve gradually reduced MWT and TWL after operation starting from day 1 until day 7 and 14 as compared with the baseline in group NP. IT NSC transplantation significantly increased MWT and TWL and expression of BDNF in spinal dorsal horn and DRG in a dese-dependent manner at day 7 after operation in N1-5 groups as compared with group NP. There were no significant differences in MWT and TWL and BDNF expression among N3, N4 and N5 groups at day 21 after operation.Conclusion The proper quantity of transplanted NSCs which are able to ameliorate NP induced by partial transection of sciatic nerve in rats is 105 .