Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) transplantation in spinal cord prolongs the survival of mutant SOD1 (G93A) ALS rats through neuroprotection and remyelination

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal progressive neurodegenerative disease. SOD1G93A rat(n=20), medium+SOD1G93A rat(n=20), OECs+SOD1G93A rat(n=20), and another 20 wild type rats as control. 5μL(1×105) OECs was injected into the dorsal funiculus of the thoracic spinal cord (T7) through a glass micropipette at depths of 0.7 mm and 0.4 mm (0.5 lL). Kaplan Meier survival analysis revealed a significant increase (7 days) in the survival time of the OEC+SOD1G93A rats. Body weight record and Inclined board test showed a significant difference from onset 7days to 11days (P<0.05). Motor neuron count per ventral horn of thoracic spinal cord showed a significant motor neuron loss in SOD1G93A rats(P<0.001). Immunohistochemistry and Western blot ChAT analysis supported the motor neuron count. Confocal microscope images of tissue sections indicated that the transplanted OEC could have survived more than four weeks and migrated as long as 8.4mm through the spinal cord. Evidence of remyelination was captured. In conclusion, the transplanted OECs could serve as a source of neuroprotection and a remyelination to positively modify the ALS‐specific microenvironment.