Objective In order to observe the role of genetically modified Schwann cell (SC) with pSVPoMcat in the regeneration of injured spinal cord.Method The cells were implanted into the spinal cord.Ninety SD rats were used to establish a model of hemi- transection of spinal cord at the level of T8,and were divided into three groups,randomly, that is,pSVPoMcat modified SC implantation(Group A), SC implantation(Group B),and without cell implantation as control(Group C).After three months the presence of axonal regeneration of the injured spinal cord was examined by means of horseradish peroxidase(HRP)retrograde labeling technique and stereography.Result The results indicated that HRP labeled cells in Group A and B could be found in the superior region of injured spinal cord and the brain stem such as the red nuclei and oculomotor nuclei. The density of ventral horn neurons of the spinal cord and the number of myelinated axons in 100 μ m of the white matter was A >B >C group.Conclusion In brief,the pSVPoMcat modified SC intraspinal implantation could promote regeneration of the injured spinal cord.
Objective To study the protective effects of the intracord transplantation of microgene pSVPoMcat－ genetically－ modified Schwann cells (MSCs)on spinal cord injury (SCI).Method Rats with semi－ division(SD) of the spinal cord was divided into 4 groups.Group S consisted of the rats with SD treated with the transplantation of MSCs, Group B of the rats with SD treated with the transplantation of SCs without genetic modification,Group C of the rats with SD without treatment and Group D was the normal control. 8 hours after operation,the half of the rats of each group were killed and the injured segment of the spinal cord was resected to be examined with atomic absorption spectrophotometry . Another half of the rats of all the groups were examined with neurological function tests to have a combined behavioral score (CBS).Result There was a significant increase of water content and Na＋ and Ca2＋ ions and a decrease of K＋ and Mg 2＋ ions in the injured cord segment of Group C and a statistically significant recovery was observed in Group A. The intracord transplantation of pSVPoMcat genetically modidied SCs improved the neurological outcome of spinal cord injury.Conclusion Our findings indicate that intracord transplantation of pSVPoMcat－ genetically－ modified－ Schwanncells exerts protective effects on the injured segment of the spinal cord through the improvement of the internal ion environment of the spinal cord.
