Neural Regen Res, 2020 · DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.266915 · Published: October 18, 2019
This meta-analysis assesses the effectiveness of neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation for improving motor function recovery in rats with spinal cord injuries (SCIs). The study combines data from multiple experiments to provide a comprehensive evaluation. The researchers analyzed data from 37 studies involving rats with contusion SCIs. They focused on studies that used the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan locomotor rating scale to assess motor function. The meta-analysis found that NSC transplantation can moderately improve motor function recovery in rats with contusion SCIs. However, the effectiveness varied depending on factors such as the timing of transplantation and the type of NSCs used.
The meta-analysis provides insights into factors such as NSC sources, doses, grafting time, and immunosuppressive administration, which can be used to design effective clinical trials for SCI treatment.
The study suggests that NSC transplantation alone has limited efficacy and should be combined with other therapeutic strategies to achieve superior functional improvements in SCI.
Variables such as gender and strain can significantly influence the outcomes of studies using animal models of SCI, supporting the need for personalized treatment approaches.