Axonal Sprouting into the Denervated Spinal Cord and Synaptic and Postsynaptic Protein Expression in the Spinal Cord after Transplantation of Bone Marrow Stromal Cell in Stroke Rats

Brain Res, 2007 · DOI: · Published: May 29, 2007

Neurology Neuroplasticity Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cells

Simple Explanation

This study investigates how bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) impact nerve regeneration after a stroke in rats. Researchers looked at the corticospinal tract (CST) and corticorubral tract (CRT), which are important for movement. After a stroke, the brain can sometimes rewire itself, but this study explores whether BMSCs can help this process. The researchers focused on axonal sprouting, which is when nerve fibers grow into damaged areas to try and restore function. The study found that rats treated with BMSCs showed more nerve fiber growth in the damaged areas of the spinal cord and red nucleus. They also had increased levels of proteins related to synapse formation, suggesting improved communication between nerve cells.

Study Duration

28 days

Participants

19 adult male Wistar rats

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
BMSC treatment significantly increased axonal restructuring in the de-afferented red nucleus and denervated spinal motoneurons after stroke.
2
BMSC treatment significantly increased synaptic proteins in the denervated motoneurons, indicating enhanced synapse formation.
3
The improvements in axonal restructuring and synaptic protein expression were highly correlated with improved functional outcomes after stroke in rats treated with BMSCs.

Research Summary

This study demonstrates that bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) treatment following a stroke enhances axonal sprouting and rewiring of the corticospinal (CST) and corticorubral (CRT) tracts. The researchers found that BMSC treatment increased axonal connections from the intact motor cortex to the denervated spinal cord, leading to functional recovery. BMSC treatment also significantly increased both the presynaptic and postsynaptic proteins on denervated spinal motoneurons, suggesting that the denervated motoneurons have been rewired from the cortical pyramidal cells

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Potential

BMSC transplantation may be a viable therapeutic strategy to promote neural repair and functional recovery after stroke.

Rehabilitation Strategies

Understanding the mechanisms of neural pathway reorganization could aid in developing better rehabilitation strategies for stroke patients.

Further Research

Further research should focus on identifying the specific growth factors and neurotrophins secreted by BMSCs that contribute to axonal sprouting and synaptic formation.

Study Limitations

1
Variations in the number of labeled CST fibers due to slight differences in the location or amount of dye applied.
2
The direct synaptic connection between CST and spinal motoneurons was reported with using CST tracing method, an electron microscopy study showed that no evidence of direct cortico-motoneuronal synaptic connections present in the rat
3
Technical limitations of tracing methods make it difficult to distinguish newly growing sprouts in the denervated side.

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