Alginic acid sodium hydrogel co-transplantation with Schwann cells for rat spinal cord repair

This study explores a new method for repairing spinal cord injuries in rats. It involves transplanting Schwann cells, a type of nerve cell, along with a special gel called alginic acid sodium hydrogel. The researchers compared rats that received this combined treatment to those with just the injury, those with Schwann cells alone, and a control group. They looked at how well the rats could move and examined the cells in the injured area of the spinal cord. The results showed that the combined treatment helped the rats recover their ability to move better than the other treatments. The researchers also found that it reduced cell death and increased the levels of a protective protein in the injured spinal cord.

• 1
  Schwann cells-alginic acid sodium hydrogel co-transplantation could inhibit cellular apoptosis and enhance Bcl-2 expression in the spinal cord-transected segments.
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  The BBB scores were significantly higher in the Schwann cells-alginic acid sodium hydrogel transplantation group than in the simple injury and Schwann cell groups.
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  Apoptotic cells in the Schwann cells-alginic acid sodium hydrogel group were the fewest among all groups.