Topically applied adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell treatment in experimental focal cerebral ischemia.

Abstract In this study, the neuro-modulation effect of topical mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was tested in a rodent middle carotid artery occlusion (MCAO) model. Twenty-four hours after MCAO, craniotomy was made and 0.8 × 106 GFP-MSCs were topically applied to the exposed parietal cortex. The MSCs were fixed in position by a thin layer of fibrin glue (N = 30). In the control group, saline were topically applied to the ipsilateral parietal cortex (N = 30). Three days after topical application, few GFP-positive cells were found in the ischemic penumbra. They expressed GFAP and NeuN. Topical MSCs triggered microglial activation, astrocytosis and cellular proliferation at day 3. The recovery of neurological functions were significantly enhanced as determined in Rotarod test and Morris Water Maze test with smaller infarct volume. PCR array showed that expressions of ten genes of neurogenesis were altered in the penumbra region (fold change > 1.25, p