The Neuronal Regeneration of Adult Zebrafish After Spinal Cord Injury Is Enhanced by Transplanting Optimized Number of Neural Progenitor Cells

Cell Transplantation, 2020 · DOI: 10.1177/0963689720903679 · Published: January 3, 2020

Simple Explanation

This study focuses on developing a platform to determine the optimal number of transplanted cells for spinal cord injury (SCI) repair in zebrafish. They used zebrafish embryos and a transgenic line to generate green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing cells. These GFP(+) cells, termed hypoxia-responsive recovering cells, were transplanted into the site of SCI in adult zebrafish to assess the relationship between the number of transplanted cells and the survival rate of the recipients. The study found that transplanting 300 GFP(+) donor cells resulted in the highest survival rate and enhanced neuronal regeneration in the recipients. Higher numbers of cells led to inflammation and increased mortality.

Study Duration

5 days

Participants

Adult wild-type zebrafish and transgenic line huORFZ zebrafish embryos

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Transplanting 300 GFP(+) cells into adult zebrafish with SCI resulted in the highest survival rate compared to transplanting 100, 500, or 1,000 cells.
2
GFP(+) donor cells transplanted into the lesion site were able to proliferate and differentiate into neurons, indicating their potential for neuronal regeneration.
3
Transplantation of GFP(+) cells enhanced neuronal regeneration in adult zebrafish treated with SCI, improving their swimming distance compared to non-transplanted zebrafish.

Research Summary

This study developed a technological platform for transplanting cells into the spinal cord injury (SCI) site of adult zebrafish and determined that transplanting 300 GFP(+) cells is the optimal number for successful transplantation and spinal cord regeneration. The transplanted GFP(+) cells were shown to proliferate and differentiate into neurons, contributing to enhanced neuronal regeneration in the recipients after SCI. The study provides a practical methodology for studying cell transplantation therapy in neuronal regeneration of zebrafish after SCI, offering insights that may be applicable to mammalian systems.

Practical Implications

Optimized Cell Transplantation

Determining the optimum number of transplanted cells can improve the efficacy of cell transplantation therapies for spinal cord injury.

Zebrafish Model for SCI Research

The zebrafish model offers a valuable platform for studying neuronal regeneration and cell transplantation techniques due to its regenerative capabilities and ease of manipulation.

Neuronal Regeneration Enhancement

Transplanting GFP(+) cells derived from hypoxic conditions can enhance neuronal regeneration after spinal cord injury.

Study Limitations

1
The number of transplanted cells counted from total frozen sections should be underestimated.
2
Not all GFP-(þ) cells transplanted into host could entirely survive after 1 dpt.
3
Study is limited to zebrafish model, translational implications to mammals require further investigation

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