Stem Cells Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Stem Cells, including details on research, transplants, therapy, benefits.

Functional Outcome of Bone Marrow Stem Cells (CD45(+)/CD34(-)) After Cell Therapy in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury in Wistar Rats.

Carvalho KA, Vialle EN, Moreira GH, Cunha RC, Simeoni RB, Francisco JC, Guarita-Souza LC, Oliveira L, Zocche L, Olandoski M

Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, da Pontificia Universidade Católica do Paraná (ICBS-PUCPR), Curitiba, Brazil; Divisao de Bioprocessos do Departamento de Engenharia da UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil; Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Príncipe–Complexo Hospitalar Pequeno Príncipe, Curitiba, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Therapy with diverse cell types has been proposed to regenerate spinal cord injuries seeking to minimize the consequences for the lives of chronic patients. The types considered are: mononuclear and mesenchymal adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and Schwann cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety male Wistar rats that underwent spinal cord contusion injury (NYU Impactor) were followed with the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale for 14 days. Animals with scores </=16 were randomly divided into 2 groups: control (vehicle) versus cell therapy group. The mononuclear fraction (CD45(+)/CD34(-)) obtained by puncture-aspiration of the bone marrow was isolated by a density gradient (d = 1.077). The parenchymal cell infusion was performed using a syringe (100 U/1 mL) with a 30G1/2 needle. The animals were followed for 10 days before euthanasia. Statistical analyses comparing groups were performed by the Mann-Whitney test and group comparisons by the Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: Among 90 injured rats, 65 (72.2%) survived, including 44 whose scores were </=16. Eleven animals finished the study in the control group (64.7%) and 17 in the therapy group (80.9%). The statistical analyses did not demonstrate significance (P > .05) for either test. CONCLUSION: Mononuclear adult stem cell therapy was not demonstrated to be functionally effective for chronic spinal cord injury.

Published 5 May 2008 in Transplant Proc, 40(3): 845-846.
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