ALL STEM CELLS

A B S T R A C T A potential treatment for millions of new cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be through the transplantation of genetically modified adult bone marrow stem cells (BMSC) in the form of neurospheres. This study examined behavioral recovery in the controlled cortical impact (CCI), a rodent model of TBI, after neurosphere transplantation. Rats received a unilateral CCI over the forelimb sensorimotor cortex. Seven days post-CCI, neurospheres or vehicle control were injected within the cortex or striatum. Forelimb deficits were assessed with two behavioral tests for two months. The test results indicated striatal neurosphere transplants significantly reduced deficits in both behavior tests while other transplantation combinations only resulted in enhancements within either behavioral test or injection site. Results suggest that neurosphere transplantation may be effective in enhancing behavioral recovery following TBI and striatum transplantation may provide a more optimal transplant site than cortex.

INTRODUCTION
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) affects 1.7 million people annually and is a persistent concern in clinical settings with detrimental neurological and behavioral side effects (Faul et al. 2010). Currently there are no approved treatment options for physicians to administer after a TBI. Yet, there are three known theoretical approaches to the treatment of TBI: the use of behavioral rehabilitation, the reduction of secondary traumatic factors, and the restoration of lost tissue (Gnecchi & Melo 2009). A potential solution is to ameliorate the loss of tissue with transplanted stem cells. Transplantation of different types of cells and tissues has been attempted in several disease conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and TBI (Opydo-Chanek 2007).

Daniel J. Clark
DePaul University, dclark8@depaul.edu
http://via.library.depaul.edu/depaul-disc