Development of rat embryonic spinal ganglion cells in damaged nerve

The development of dissociated cells from rat embryonic spinal ganglion after transplantation to damaged nerve of adult animals was studied using immunohistochemical differentiation markers of neural and glial cells. The cell suspension obtained after dissociation of rat embryonic spinal ganglia (embryonic day 15) was injected into the proximal segment of crushed sciatic nerve. The nerve was damaged by ligation for 40 sec. Progenitor cells were labeled with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) before transplantation. BrdU-immunopositive cells were detected in the nerve trunks of recipients on days 1, 21, and 28 after transplantation. Dissociated cells of rat embryonic spinal ganglion (embryonic day 15) survived for at least 4 weeks after transplantation to the nerve and differentiate into NeuN-immunopositive neurons with morphological properties of sensory neurons and satellite cells containing S100 protein.

MMP-2 is involved in synaptic remodeling after cochlear lesion

Lesion-induced neuroplasticity, including fiber degeneration, axonal growth, and synaptogenesis, involves dynamical changes of the extracellular matrix. We discovered that the matrix metalloprotease-2 (MMP-2), a major actor in extracellular matrix recomposition, is changed in distribution and increased in amount in the ventral cochlear nucleus after unilateral cochlear ablation. There was a remarkable coincidence of MMP-2 accumulation and GAP-43 expression in time and space. We obtained evidence indicating that MMP-2 is delivered to regions of emerging GAP-43 positive synaptic endings by postsynaptic neurons as well as by adjoining astrocytes. These results indicate a major role of MMP-2 in lesion-induced remodeling of central auditory networks and suggest a cooperativity with GAP-43-directed axonal outgrowth and synaptogenesis.