Neurotrophic Factors Improve Motoneuron Survival and Function of Muscle Reinnervated by Embryonic Neurons

Motoneuron diseases and spinal cord injuries can lead to the death of motoneurons, resulting in muscle denervation and loss of muscle control. This study explores whether transplanting embryonic neurons along with neurotrophic factors can improve axon regeneration, muscle fiber area, and muscle function compared to transplanting cells alone. The results indicate that a specific combination of GDNF, HGF, and IGF-1 significantly improves motoneuron survival and long-term muscle function.

• 1
  Adding GDNF, HGF, and IGF-1 to the cell transplant significantly increased motoneuron survival, myelinated axon counts, muscle reinnervation, and evoked EMG compared to cells alone.
• 2
  Transplantation of cells with GDNF alone or LIF alone resulted in a higher proportion of reinnervated muscle fibers compared to cells alone.
• 3
  The combination of GDNF, HGF, and IGF-1 with transplanted cells resulted in higher axon counts and evoked EMG than expected from the additive effects of each factor alone.