Respiratory outcomes after mid-cervical transplantation of embryonic medullary cells in rats with cervical spinal cord injury

This study investigates whether transplanting embryonic brainstem cells into the spinal cord after a cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI) can improve breathing. The researchers transplanted cells rich in serotonin, a chemical important for breathing control, into rats with spinal cord injuries. They found that rats with successful transplants showed improved breathing responses during a respiratory challenge, suggesting the transplant can aid respiratory recovery after cSCI.

• 1
  MB grafts had a more robust respiratory response during a respiratory challenge (7% inspired CO2).
• 2
  Successful MB grafts were associated with an increased ability to ventilate during respiratory stimulation with CO2.
• 3
  During respiratory challenge, each of the rats with successful MB graft that were neurophysiologically evaluated had ipsilateral phrenic nerve burst output greater than all of the sham treated C2Hx rats.