Despite advances in technology and rehabilitation, no effective therapies are available for patients with SCI, which remains a major medical challenge. This study compared the efficacy of 3 different doses of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) administered by intraperitoneal injection as a therapeutic strategy for compressive SCI. We used adult female C57BL/6 mice that underwent laminectomy at the T9 level, followed by spinal-cord compression for 1 min with a 30-g vascular clip. ⋯ The cells of the three MSC doses administered i.p. were able to migrate to the injury site, increase local expression of trophic factors, and enhance fiber sparing and/or regeneration, accompanied by substantial improvement in locomotor performance. Cell transplantation at 8 × 105 density showed the best therapeutic potential, leading to significant tissue and functional improvements compared to the other two doses. These findings indicate that i.p. application of MSCs at the density of 8 × 105 yielded the best results, suggesting that this dose is a good choice for SCI treatment.
Bruna Dos Santos Ramalho, Fernanda Marques Pestana, Caio Andrade Prins, Fellipe Soares Dos Santos Cardoso, Danilo Rufino Cavalcante, Sérgio Augusto Lopes de Souza, Bianca Gutfilen, Martins de Almeida
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Laboratório de Neurodegeneração e Reparo, Departamento de Patologia - Faculdade de Medicina, HUCFF, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, , and Blanco Martinez
Ana Maria
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Laboratório de Neurodegeneração e Reparo, Departamento de Patologia - Faculdade de Medicina, HUCFF, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, R. less
Laboratório de Neurodegeneração e Reparo, Departamento de Patologia - Faculdade de Medicina, HUCFF, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.