Neuroprotection of ligustrazine hydrochloride combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in rats with spinal cord injury

Wu Xiao-ming; Gao Wen-shan; Wang Jing; Cai Hong-yun

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2016.01.017

Abstract：BACKGROUND:Ligustrazine hydrochloride which promotes nerve repair can be applied to the treatment of nervous system injury. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of ligustrazine hydrochloride combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels transplantation on electrophysiological property and hindlimb function of rats with spinal cord injury. METHODS:T9 spinal cord transection injury models were made in rats using Alen’s method, and then rat models were randomized into three groups: rats in control group received tail vein injection of culture solution; rats in cel transplantation group underwent bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantationvia the tail vein; rats in combined group were subjected to the tail vein injection of ligustrazine hydrochloride and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels that lasted for 4 hours. At 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks after modeling, Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan scores and modified Tarlov scores were used to detect the motor function of rats. At 72 hours after modeling, RT-PCR method was used to detect the expression of Bcl-2 and basic fibroblast growth factor around the injured region. At 4 weeks after modeling, somatosensory and motor evoked potentials were measured for evaluation of neurophysiological recovery. At 8 weeks after modeling, horseradish peroxidase tracer was used to assess the regeneration of rat spinal cord nerve fibers; PKH-26 labeling was used to observe the survival and migration of transplanted cels. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks after modeling, Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan scores and modified Tarlov scores were significantly higher in the combined group than the cel transplantation folowed by the control group (P < 0.05). At 72 hours after modeling, the expression of Bcl-2 and basic fibroblast growth factor around the injured region was significantly higher in the combined group than the cel transplantation group and control group (P < 0.05). At 4 weeks after modeling, the latencies of somatosensory and motor evoked potentials were ranked as folows: combined group < cel transplantation group < control group (P < 0.05); the amplitudes of somatosensory and motor evoked potentials were ranked as folows: combined group > cel transplantation group > control group (P < 0.05). At 8 weeks after modeling, horseradish peroxidase-labeled pyramidal cels in the cel transplantation group and combined group showed apparent crossing signs; the number of PKH-26-positive cels and horseradish peroxidase-positive cels was the most in the combined group folowed by the cel transplantation group, and was the least in the control group (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that ligustrazine hydrochloride combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels transplantation can facilitate nerve cel regeneration, promote the expression of Bcl-2 and basic fibroblast growth factor, and improve motor function in rats after spinal cord injury. Cite this article:Wu XM, Gao WS, Wang J, Cai HY.Neuroprotection of ligustrazine hydrochloride combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation in rats with spinal cord injury. Zhongguo Zuzhi Gongcheng Yanjiu. 2016;20(1):95-101.