Therapeutic Effect of Cell Transplantation and Chondroitinase in Rat Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries often lead to permanent disabilities because the central nervous system can't repair itself. This study explores using cell therapy to help with nerve repair. Specifically, it looks at using olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are promising for transplantation because they don't raise ethical concerns like embryonic stem cells. The research aims to see if combining OECs and MSCs with an enzyme called chondroitinase can improve recovery in rats with spinal cord injuries. Chondroitinase helps break down scar tissue that can prevent nerve regeneration. The study found that treatments involving chondroitinase and cell combinations showed a beneficial effect in promoting recovery from spinal cord injuries in rats. These findings suggest a potential therapeutic approach for spinal cord injuries.

• 1
  All treated groups showed hindlimb motor recovery, evidenced by improved BBB scores, except for the control group.
• 2
  The combination of OECs, MSCs, and chondroitinase resulted in better hindlimb motor recovery compared to OEC+MSC groups alone.
• 3
  Chondroitinase alone demonstrated the highest BBB score compared to any other groups, suggesting a significant role in functional recovery.