The Effects Of OECs Transplantation On The Expression Of CSPGs After The Spinal Cord Injury To The Rats

PrefaceThe injuries and diseases of the spinal cord often cause permanent disability. While a therapy under exploration is the bio - transplantation. Olfactory en-sheathing cells ( OECs) are candidates for transplantation. Researches showed that OECs transplantation is helpful for the motor function recovery and the regeneration of the axons of the model animals. However, the chondrointin sulfate proteoglycans ( CSPGs) are a family of molecules that inhibits the regeneration of the axons in the glial scars formed after the injury. The aim of this research is to testify the effects of transplanted OECs on the expression of the CSPGs after the spinal cord injury (SCI).MaterialsAccording to the references, the adult Wistar rats were adopted as the donor of the OECs and the SCI model animals.Methods1. In vitro culture and purification of the OECs by the modified Nash's method.2. The establishment of the SCI model and the transplantation by mirco -injection.3. The evaluation of the motor function recovery by BBB.4. Westernblot detection5. Immunohistochemistry detectionResults1. The OECs were separated , purified and cultured.2. The model was established, and the transplantation was achieved.3. The evaluation by BBB showed the OECs transplanted animals had a better recovery.4. The westerblot test showed the OECs transplanted specimen expressed less CSPGs.5. The immunohistochemistry ( IHC ) test showed the OECs transplanted specimen expressed less CSPGs.DiscussionOECs are special type of glial cells existing in the olfactory nerve systems. Most recent studies agree that OECs transplantation could benefit the motor functions recovery and the axon regeneration of the model animals.OECs often co - exists with other cells. So the in vitro culture needs purification. Many foreign researchers have developed some methods. We followed Nashs method and modified it. And we acquired OECs with fine purity.Our immunohistochemistry test showed transplanted OECs were still alive 4 weeks after the operation. This ensured the actions of OECs on the motor function recovery and the axon regeneration. And the kinetics evaluation showed that animals received OECs transplantation had a better recovery compared with the animals in the control group. The difference had statistical significance.CSPGs distributes in almost everywhere in the body. They are formed by protein skeleton and glycan side chains. At the injury site of the CNS, CSPGs will soon be expressed. And CSPGs secreted by the glial cells collected from the injury site could block the growth of the axons. If CSPGs were neutralized, these cells could be helpful in the regeneration.In our research, we choose two of CSPGs, phosphacan and neurocan, as...