Abstract
In this study, we have grafted neural stem cells (NSCs) into the lumbar spinal cord of a mouse mutant that has a specific loss of motoneurons (progressive motor neuronopathy/pmn). A small number of grafted cells ( approximately 3000) increased the life span of the mice by 56%. The improved survival was accompanied by a rescue of host motoneurons, a stabilization in the weight and an increase in the size of the muscle fibers. The grafted NSCs were small and round and exhibited no neural markers, suggesting that they remained in an undifferentiated state. Thus grafting of NSCs in a mouse model with motoneuron degeneration exerts a neuroprotective effect.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Analysis of Variance
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Animals
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Cell Differentiation / physiology*
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Cells, Cultured
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Disease Models, Animal
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Male
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Mice
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Mice, Mutant Strains
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Molecular Chaperones / genetics*
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Motor Neuron Disease* / genetics
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Motor Neuron Disease* / pathology
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Motor Neuron Disease* / surgery
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Motor Neurons / physiology*
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Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / pathology
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Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / metabolism
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Recovery of Function / physiology
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Spinal Cord / pathology*
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Spinal Cord / physiopathology
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Spinal Cord / surgery
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Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*
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Time Factors
Substances
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Molecular Chaperones
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Tbce protein, mouse
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Phosphopyruvate Hydratase