Role of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stromal cells and Schwann-like cells transplantation on spinal cord injury in adult male albino rats.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord injury is a considerable health impact accompanied with physical, psychological and economic burden. Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs) transplantation was found to produce neuronal regenerative effects. Schwann-like cells differentiated from BM-MSCs have myelin-forming ability. AIM OF THE WORK: To compare the ability of BM-MSCs versus Schwann like cells to promote recovery of spinal cord injury. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Adult male albino rats were used throughout the study. BM-MSCs were harvested from femora of rats. Sciatic nerves were extracted and used in the preparation of the induction culture medium for differentiation of BM-MSCs into Schwann-like cells. Rats were divided into control, spinal cord injured (SCI), spinal cord injured plus BM-MSCs transplantation (BM-MSC) and spinal cord injured plus Schwann-like cells transplantation (Sn) groups. BBB scale assessment was performed before and after SCI in all rats. Rats were euthanized at the end of the 7th week and spinal cords were dissected and processed for light and transmission electron microscopic examinations. RESULTS: Spinal cord sections of SCI group revealed cavitation, necrosis and demyelination. BM-MSC and Sn groups showed both functional and structural improvement compared to SCI group with better BBB score and histopathological features in the BM-MSC group and more expression of S100 in the Sn group. CONCLUSION: Transplantation of BM-MSCs and Schwann-like cells improved the structural and functional alterations of spinal cord injury with better improvement in BM-MSC group.

Possible ameliorative effect of Vitamin C on cerebellar toxicity induced by gibberellic acid during late pregnancy and early postnatal periods in albino rats

Gibberellic acid (GA3) is a plant growth regulator, widely used in agriculture in Egypt. The goal of this study was to illustrate the histopathological effects of (GA3) on the growing cerebellar cortex and the possible ameliorative effect of vitamin C. Fifty female Sprague-Dawly rats were classified into the following groups: Group I (control group); Group II (GA3-treated group), which received intra-gastric daily dose of GA3 55 mg/kg from the 14th day of pregnancy until the day 14 after delivery; Group III (GA3 & Vitamin C treated group), which received intra-gastric daily dose GA3, 55 mg/kg simultaneously with 100 mg of Vitamin C /kg from the 14th day of pregnancy till day 14 after delivery; and Group IV (Vitamin C-treated group), which received intra-gastric daily dose 100 mg of Vitamin C / kg from the 14th day of pregnancy till day 14 after delivery. One month after delivery, cerebella of pups from all groups were extracted and examined. The cerebellar cortex of GA3-treated group revealed degenerated and displaced Purkinje and granular nerve cells with prominent spongiosis in the molecular layer. Vitamin C administration resulted in marked regression of the previously mentioned neurotoxic effects. In conclusion: results of the current study revealed that maternal exposure to GA3 during pregnancy and lactation caused delayed development of the offsprings' cerebellar cortex. The co-administration of Vitamin C greatly reduced these neuro-toxic effects of GA3 exposure

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Therapeutic efficacy of olfactory stem cells in rotenone induced Parkinsonism in adult male albino rats.

BACKGROUND: Olfactory stem cells (OSCs) are found in the olfactory mucosa and olfactory bulb and have the capacity to proliferate and differentiate along multiple tissue lineages. Rotenone; widely used insecticide has a neurodegenerative effect on the dopaminergic cells of substantia nigra (SN) of midbrain producing Parkinsonism. The aim of this study is to isolate rat OSCs from olfactory mucosa and olfactory bulb, culture these OSCs in suitable medium to allow for their proliferation to be used in the treatment of Parkinsonism induced by rotenone. METHODS: The characteristics of OSCs, the effects of rotenone on the SN of midbrain and the curative effect of OSCs on the substantia nigra were determined morphologically, immunohistochemically, and by transmission electron microscopy. PKH 26; immunofluorescent dye was used as a cell tracer to locate the transplanted cells in host midbrain. RESULTS: OSCs were spindle shaped with irregular processes, and were positive for CD44 and Nestin and negative for CD34. Subcutaneous rotenone produced Parkinsonism through producing degeneration of the dopaminergic cells of SN of the midbrain. Transplantation of OSCs produced restoration of the normal structure of SN and dopaminergic cells and improves the clinical manifestations of Parkinsonism. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that, the isolated rat OSCs can proliferate and expand in vitro when culture in suitable medium and these cells can exert therapeutic effects in Parkinsonism by recruitment in SN and restoration of the structure and function of dopaminergic cells.

Effect of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue on cyclophosphamide-induced ovarian toxicity in adult mice.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the possible protective effect of low and high dose of triptorelin, a GnRH analogue, on cyclophosphamide-induced ovarian toxicity in adult female mice. METHODS: Thirty-six sexually mature, virgin, female mice were divided randomly into six groups of six each: control group, low-dose triptorelin (TL) group, high-dose triptorelin (TH) group, cyclophosphamide (CPA) group, low-dose triptorelin plus cyclophosphamide (TL + CPA) group and high-dose triptorelin plus cyclophosphamide (T + CPA) group. Mice in both the TL + CPA and the TH + CPA groups were injected with 3.8 and 38 mg/kg of triptorelin subcutaneously, respectively. Four weeks later, mice in the CPA, TL + CPA and TH + CPA groups were injected with cyclophosphamide, intraperitoneally, at a dose of 50 mg/kg. Ovaries were removed 4 weeks later and processed for light microscopic examinations. RESULTS: Obvious destruction of ovarian structure and significant depletion of primordial, primary, secondary and antral follicles were demonstrated in the CPA group and compared with the control group, the difference was statistically highly significant (p < 0.001), affirming the ovarian toxicity of cyclophosphamide. In the TL + CPA group, there was a significant increase in primordial, primary, secondary and antral follicles compared with the CPA group (p < 0.05), showing the effect of triptorelin on ovarian protection. Regarding, the high-dose GnRH agonist the difference was statistically highly significant for primordial and primary follicles (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study has showed a dose-dependent protective effect of GnRH analogue on ovarian reserve against ovarian toxic chemotherapy, thus demonstrating an important role of GnRH analogues in fertility preservation.