Improvement of motor function in mice after implantation of mononuclear stem cells from human umbilical cord and placenta blood after 3 and 6 weeks of experimental spinal cord injury

Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2024 Oct 10:79:100509. doi: 10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100509. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Study design: Experimental study utilizing with a standardized model (MASCIS Impactor) of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) in Balb C mouse model with implantation of mononuclear stem cells derived from the human umbilical cord and placenta blood in the early chronic phase of SCI.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the nerve regeneration and motor functional recovery in Balb C mice with surgically induced paraplegia in response to the use of mononuclear stem cells, in early chronic phase (> 2 weeks and < 6 months), because there is yet potential of neuronal and functional recovery as the neuronal scar is not still completely established.

Methods: Forty-eight mice were randomly assigned to 6 groups of 8 animals. Group 1 received the stem cells 3 weeks after the trauma, and Group 2 received them six weeks later. In Group 3, saline solution was injected at the site of the lesion 3 weeks after the trauma, and in Group 4, 6 weeks later. Group 5 underwent only spinal cord injury and Group 6 underwent laminectomy only. The scales used for motor assessment were BMS and MFS for 12 weeks.

Results: The intervention groups showed statistically significant motor improvement. In the histopathological analysis, the intervention groups had a lower degree of injury (p < 0.05). Regarding axonal budding, the intervention groups showed increasing in axonal budding in the caudal portion (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: The use of stem cells in mice in the chronic phase after 3 and 6 weeks of SCI brings functional and histopathological benefits to them.

Keywords: Histopathological evaluation; Mesenchymal stem cells; Motor evaluation; Spinal cord trauma; Umbilical cord.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / methods
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C*
  • Motor Activity / physiology
  • Nerve Regeneration* / physiology
  • Paraplegia / physiopathology
  • Placenta*
  • Pregnancy
  • Random Allocation*
  • Recovery of Function*
  • Spinal Cord Injuries* / physiopathology
  • Time Factors
  • Umbilical Cord / cytology