Mesencephalic progenitors can differentiate into TH-Positive neurons and improve dysfunction in PD rats

This study investigated the possibility of using mesencephalic progenitors (MPs) in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). MPs were prepared from E 11 13 rats and proliferated in the serum free medium with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) for 10 days. Cells were then collected and implanted into the striatum only-single grafts, or simultaneously into the substantia nigra (SN) and the striatum-double grafts. Twelve weeks after transplantation, 1,1' dioctadecyl 3,3,3',3' tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI), a fluorescent dye, was microinjected into the ipsilateral striatum. The results show that double grafted MPs have more potent effects on rotational behavior than single grafted MPs. Injection of the retrograde tracer DiI into the striatum results in fluorescent labeled cells within the intranigral grafts only in double graft subjects. These data suggest that MP transplants not only can improve rotational behavior, but also help to reestablish nigrostriatal connections, so that such transplants may become an efficient way of treating PD.