Effect of Schwann and mesenchymal stem cells on experimentally induced sciatic nerve injury in rats

Abstract

Objective Transplantation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and Schwann cells (SCs) can facilitate axon regeneration in peripheral nerve injuries. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of transplantation of BMSCs and SCs on electrophysiological recording after injury of the sciatic nerve in the rat. Materials and methods In this study, 40 adult male albino rats (250-300 g) were used. BMSCs and SCs were cultured. Rats were divided randomly into four equal groups: group 1, control without nerve injury; group 2, nerve injury without cell transplantation; group 3, nerve injury with BMSCs transplantation; and group 4, nerve injury with SCs transplantation. Standardized crush injury of the sciatic nerve (axonotmesis) was performed by surgical hemostat at the first lock for 1 min; BMSCs and SCs were separately transplanted intralesionally. After 8 weeks, electrophysiological recordings were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance. Results Electrophysiological analysis showed a significant improvement in the cell transplantation groups compared with the injured group (P Conclusion BMSCs and SCs may potentially enable recovery after a standardized injury to the sciatic nerve in rats (axonotmesis). Electrophysiological evaluation confirms this improvement after transplantation of SCs and BMSCs, with no significant difference between them.