Rabbit olfactory stem cells. Isolation protocol and characterization

PURPOSE: To describe a new technique for isolation of a mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) population from the olfactory mucosa in rabbits. METHODS: Olfactory stem cells (OSCs) were retrieved from under the cribriform plate of the Ethmoid bone. Several assays were accomplished to characterize the cell population and attest its viability in vitro. The cells were submitted to flow cytometry with the antibodies CD34, CD45, CD73, CD79, CD90 and CD105 and also they were induced to differentiate in three lineages. Functional evaluation involved analysis of in vitro growth behavior, colony forming unit like fibroblasts (CFU-f) and cryopreservation response. Further transduction with Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) was also performed. RESULTS: The OSCs showed mesenchymal features, as positive response to CD34, CD73 and CD90 antibodies and plasticity. Additionally, these cells have high proliferated rate, and they could be cultured through many passages and kept the ability to proliferate and differentiate after cryopreservation. The positive response to the transduction signalizes the possibility of cellular tracking in vivo. This is a desirable feature in case those cells are used for pre-clinical trials. CONCLUSION: The cells harvested were mesenchymal stem cells and the technique described is therefore efficient for rabbit olfactory stem cells isolation.

Olfactory sensory-cell-number changes with age in albino mice

The area of the olfactory neuroepithelium, neuronal cell density, and the estimated total number of cells were studied in 1, 3, 4, 5 and 13 month-old Albino mice. The area increased from 363.7 mm2 for one month old to a maximum of 559 mm2 for 4 month old mice and then declined to 396.2 mm2 by the age of 13 month. Cell density increased with age and reached its maximum of 5.53 x 10 4 per mm2. at 5 moth-old. There was a 64% increase in total number of neurons from 1-4 months of age followed by a 28% decrease between 4 to 13 months of age