Transplantation of GABAergic neurons but not astrocytes induces recovery of sensorimotor function in the traumatically injured brain.

Full Abstract

Embryonic stem (ES) cells have been investigated in many animal models of injury and disease. However, few studies have examined the ability of pre-differentiated ES cells to improve functional outcome following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The purpose of the present study was to compare the effect of murine ES cells that were pre-differentiated into GABAergic neurons or astrocytes on functional recovery following TBI. Neural and astrocyte induction was achieved by co-culturing ES cells on a bone marrow stromal fibroblast (M2-10B4) feeder layer and incubating them with various mitogenic factors. Rats were initially prepared with a unilateral controlled cortical contusion injury of the sensorimotor cortex or sham procedure. Rats were transplanted 7 days following injury with approximately 100K GABAergic neurons, astrocytes, fibroblasts, or media. Animals were assessed on a battery of sensorimotor tasks following transplantation. The stromal fibroblast cells (M2-10B4), as a control cell line, did not differ significantly from media infusions. Transplantation of GABAergic neurons facilitated complete and total recovery on the vibrissae-forelimb placing test as opposed to all other groups, which failed to show any recovery. It was also found that GABAergic neurons reduced the magnitude of the initial impairment on the limb use test. Histological analysis revealed infiltration of host brain with transplanted neurons and astrocytes. The results of the present study suggest that transplantation of pre-differentiated GABAergic neurons significantly induces recovery of sensorimotor function; whereas, astrocytes do not.

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Author information

Author/s: Becerra, G D (GD); Tatko, L M (LM); Pak, E S (ES); Murashov, A K (AK); Hoane, M R (MR);

Affiliation: Restorative Neuroscience Laboratory, Center for Integrative Research in Cognitive and Neural Sciences, Department of Psychology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA. GDB0205(-atsign-)ECU.EDU

Grants: R15 NS045647-01 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS) ; R15 NS045647-03 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Behavioural brain research (Behav Brain Res), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Apr; vol 179 (issue 1) : pp 118-25

Dates: Created 2007/03/26; Completed 2007/07/24; Revised 2008/11/20;

PMID: 17324477, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Analysis of Variance
Animals
Astrocytes - transplantation
Brain Injuries - pathology; therapy
Brain Tissue Transplantation - physiology
Cell Differentiation - physiology
Cell Survival
Cells, Cultured
Embryonic Stem Cells - metabolism; transplantation

Male
Mice
Neurons - metabolism; transplantation
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Recovery of Function - physiology
Somatosensory Cortex - cytology; injuries; physiology
Transfection
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - metabolism

Associated Chemicals: gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (56-12-2)

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