Differences in Anatomical Outcomes Between Early Chronic and Far Chronic Time-Points After Transplantation of Spinal Cord Neural Progenitor Cells in Mice

Spinal cord injuries can cause lasting problems like paralysis and pain. One possible treatment involves transplanting special cells called neural progenitor cells (NPCs) to help fix the damaged spinal cord tissue. This study looked at how well these transplanted cells worked over time in mice with spinal cord injuries, checking things like the number of nerve cells and supporting cells (astrocytes) in the transplant, and how well the transplant connected with the mouse's own nervous system. The findings showed that while some things stayed the same, like the number of nerve cells, others changed over time. For example, there were more supporting cells and less growth of the transplant's own nerve fibers later on, but better connections with the mouse's nervous system.

• 1
  Graft neuronal density does not significantly change over time, indicating stable neuron numbers within the transplant.
• 2
  Astrocyte numbers and activity significantly increase in the far chronic phase (26 weeks) compared to the early chronic phase (8 weeks), suggesting increased glial reactivity over time.
• 3
  Graft axon outgrowth significantly decreases at 26 weeks post-transplantation compared with 8 weeks, implying potential pruning or elimination of graft-derived axons.