Survival, differentiation and migration of the spinal cord derived neural stem cells from transgenic mice transplanted into mouse models of spinal cord injury

Objective To observe the mice motion recovery and neural stem cell (NSCs) survival, migration and differentiation after the green fluorescent protein (GFP)+ -positive NSCs which was isolated and cultivated from mouse embryonic spinal cord was transplanted into mouse models of spinal cord injury lesions. Methods mice were randomly divided into control group (n=10), injury group (n=30) and cell transplanted group (n=30). The NSCs were transplanted into spinal cord injury after establishing the injured models. The Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) function scores, inclined plane test and immunohistochemistry testing were respectively evaluated and recorded 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks after the operation. Results The mouse hind limbs were paralyzed after hitting and BBB scores were 0. The transplanted group increased to 4.50 ± 1.04, injury group was 2.17 ± 0.75, scores began to appear differences at 2 weeks (P=0.023). The scores of transplanted group was 8.17±1.47 and injury group was 5.33±1.03 at 4 weeks (P=0.015). The scores of two groups were increased with the passage of time after 4 weeks. The scores of transplanted group was 10.8±1.47 and injury group was 8.33±0.81 at 6 weeks (P=0.017). The difference was biggest at 8 weeks, transplanted group was 15.50±1.37 and injury group was 11.17±1.16 (P=0.016). The angle of transplanted group was (17.17±3.18)°and injury group was (14.83±3.06)° at 1 weeks. At 2 weeks, the angle of transplanted group was (23.33±4.27)°and injury group was (18.17±2.40)°. The two groups’ results appeared significant differences at 4 weeks in inclined plane test (P=0.024). The transplanted group was (33.83±6.30)°, injury group was (23.50±1.76)°(P=0.029). The small difference of The difference was biggest at 8 weeks, transplanted group was (46.83±6.05)° and injury group was (36.33±7.23)°(P=0.019). The transplanted NSCs can survive and migrate in the body, some of which can remain undifferentiated state, a small part of which can differentiate into glia, less of which differentiate into neurons. Conclusion There was a promoting effect of NSCs for the recovery of spinal cord injury. It was forming a micro-environment conducive to resume by transplanting cells and increasing the proportion of neurons to promote recovery. Key words: Green fluorescent protein; Neural stem cells; Spinal cord injury; Cell transplantation; Mouses