RESUMEN
STUDY DESIGN: The rat's acellular spinal cord scaffold (ASCS) and spinal cord neurons were prepared in vitro to explore their biocompatibility. OBJECTIVES: The preparation of ASCS and co-culture with neuron may lay a foundation for clinical treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, ChinaMethods:ASCS was prepared by chemical extraction method. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), myelin staining and scanning electron microscope were used to observe the surface structure of ASCS. Spinal cord neurons of rat were separated in vitro, and then co-cultured with prepared ASCS in virto. RESULTS: The prepared ASCS showed mesh structure with small holes of different sizes. H&E staining showed that cell components were all removed. The ASCS possessed fine three-dimensional network porous structure. DNA components were not found in the ASCS by DNA agarose gel electrophoresis. The cultured cells express neuron-specific enolase (NSE) antigen with long axons. H&E staining showed that the neurons adhered to the pore structures of ASCS, and the cell growth was fine. The survival rate of co-cultured cells was (97.53±1.52%) by MTT detection. Immunohistochemical staining showed that neurons on the scaffold expressed NSE and NeuN antigen. Cells were arranged closely, and the channel structures of ASCS were fully filled with neurons. The cells accumulated in the channel and grew well in good state. CONCLUSION: The structure of ASCS remained intact, and the neurons were closely arranged in the scaffolds. These results may lay a solid foundation for clinical treatment of SCI when considering glial scar replacement by biomaterials.