The mechanism of neural stem cell transplantation in delaying muscle denervation atrophy

Objective To study the effect and mechanism of transplanting spinal fetal neural stem cells (NSCs) into the peripheral nerve for delaying muscle denervation atrophy. Methods Spinal. fetal NSCs were separated from spinal cord of enceinte 10 to 12 days SD rats, cultured and purified. After three passages, the formed NSC spheres were blew into single cell suspension ( 106/μl×5 μl) and transplanted into the distal part of the transected tibial nerve. 5 μl of cell culture medium was injected into the distal tibial nerve in the control group. Three and 5 months after the transplantation, the distal part of the tibial nerve and the triceps suraes were harvested and identified with specific markers, by means of indirect immunofluorescent staining to evaluate survival and differentiation of transplanted NSCs in the nerve, and to observe the neuromuscular junctions.Results Compare to the control group, atrophy of the triceps suraes muscle was less severe 3 and 5 months after NSCs transplantation. Postsynaptic membrane was also better preserved in NSCs transplanted group. Five months after NSCs transplantation, new synapses (neuromuscular junction) formed in the denervated muscle.Conclusion NSCs transplantation can delay atrophy denervated muscles. NSCs transplantation can not only maintain the structure of postsynaptic membrane, but also form new synapse with the denervated muscle. Key words: Stem cell transplantation;  Muscular atrophy;  Synapse;  Denervation