Neuroprotection and Axonal Regeneration After Lumbar Ventral Root Avulsion by Re-implantation and Mesenchymal Stem Cells Transplant Combined Therapy

Ventral spinal root avulsion causes muscles to lose their nerve supply, leading to paralysis. The chances for recovery are slim because neurons die and surviving neurons must regrow their axons over a long distance to reach the muscles. Researchers combined surgical re-implantation of the damaged roots with a transplant of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). They found that MSCs helped more neurons survive. The combination of re-implantation and MSC transplant led to better motor axon regeneration and functional re-innervation of muscles. This suggests MSCs can enhance neuronal survival and axon regrowth after this type of injury.

• 1
  Transplantation of MSCs significantly increased the survival of motoneurons after ventral root avulsion, with a 45% survival rate in MSC-treated animals compared to 28% in vehicle-injected rats.
• 2
  Combining root re-implantation with MSC transplant resulted in a higher number of surviving motoneurons (60%) compared to re-implantation alone (46%) at 28 days post-injury.
• 3
  Electromyographic tests showed evidence of functional re-innervation of anterior tibialis and gastrocnemius muscles by regenerated motor axons only in rats that received the combined treatment of root re-implantation and MSC transplant.