Comparison of feasibility of transplanting neural stem cells through three ways to treat newborn piglets with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy

Abstract

Objective To compare three ways of transplanting neural stem cells(NSCs) to treat hypoxia-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) ,such as through axillary vein,internal carotid artery and lumbar puncture. Methods Newborn piglets were divided into three groups randomly,and transplanted NSCs through axillary vein,through internal carotid artery or through lumbar puncture after hypoxic-ischemic damage operations. Each group had five piglets. Two hours after hypoxic ischemic damage,2 × 106 NSCs with green fluorescent protein were injected through axillary vein,internal carotid artery or lumbar puncture. Piglets were sacrificed 24 hours after operations. Slices were gotten at hippocarnpus, anterior horn of lateral ventricle and posterior horn of lateral ventricle. NSCs were counted at four visual fields of each four slices of each lays through fluorescence microscope with 400 amplification factor len. Results The positive cells of axillary vein group,internal carotid artery group and lumbar puncture group were 53. 80 ± 8. 78,69. 80 ± 11.90,265.00 ± 29.65respectively. The positive cells of lumbar puncture group were more than the other groups, and there was statistic significance(P < 0. 01). Conclusion The study proved NSCs injected through lumbar puncture could enter brain tissue. It is feasible to transplant NSCs through lumbar puncture to treat newborn with HIE. Key words: Cerebral hypoxia; Cerebral ischemia; Neural stem cells; Transplantation; Infant,newborn