Exercise combined with administration of adipose-derived stem cells ameliorates neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury

This study investigates the potential of combining exercise with adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) therapy to alleviate neuropathic pain (NP) following spinal cord injury (SCI). The research aims to determine if this combined approach yields better outcomes than either treatment alone. The researchers used a mouse model of SCI to assess motor function and pain-related behaviors. They transplanted ADSCs into the injured spinal cord and initiated exercise training in the mice. Behavioral tests and histological studies were then conducted to evaluate the effects of the treatments. The findings suggest that combining exercise with ADSC administration could be a promising strategy for promoting motor function recovery and reducing neuropathic pain after SCI. The combined approach showed superior results compared to exercise or ADSC therapy alone.

• 1
  Exercise combined with ADSC administration partially improved early motor function recovery after SCI.
• 2
  The combined treatment ameliorated mechanical allodynia, mechanical hypoalgesia, thermal hyperalgesia, and thermal hypoalgesia in SCI mice.
• 3
  ADSC administration reduced white and gray matter loss at the lesion site, indicating a neuroprotective effect.