1
|
Mine Y, Momiyama T, Hayashi T, Kawase T. Grafted Miniature-Swine Neural Stem Cells of Early Embryonic Mesencephalic Neuroepithelial Origin can Repair the Damaged Neural Circuitry of Parkinson's Disease Model Rats. Neuroscience 2018; 386:51-67. [PMID: 29932984 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2017] [Revised: 06/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Although recent progress in the use of human iPS cell-derived midbrain dopaminergic progenitors is remarkable, alternatives are essential in the strategies of treatment of basal-ganglia-related diseases. Attention has been focused on neural stem cells (NSCs) as one of the possible candidates of donor material for neural transplantation, because of their multipotency and self-renewal characteristics. In the present study, miniature-swine (mini-swine) mesencephalic neuroepithelial stem cells (M-NESCs) of embryonic 17 and 18 days grafted in the parkinsonian rat striatum were assessed immunohistochemically, behaviorally and electrophysiologically to confirm their feasibility for the neural xenografting as a donor material. Grafted mini-swine M-NESCs survived in parkinsonian rat striatum at 8 weeks after transplantation and many of them differentiated into tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cells. The parkinsonian model rats grafted with mini-swine M-NESCs exhibited a functional recovery from their parkinsonian behavioral defects. The majority of donor-derived TH-positive cells exhibited a matured morphology at 8 weeks. Whole-cell recordings from donor-derived neurons in the host rat brain slices incorporating the graft revealed the presence of multiple types of neurons including dopaminergic. Glutamatergic and GABAergic post-synaptic currents were evoked in the donor-derived cells by stimulation of the host site, suggesting they receive both excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs from host area. The present study shows that non-rodent mammalian M-NESCs can differentiate into functionally active neurons in the diseased xenogeneic environment and could improve the parkinsonian behavioral defects over the species. Neuroepithelial stem cells could be an attractive candidate as a source of donor material for neural transplantation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yutaka Mine
- Department of Neurosurgery and Endovascular Surgery, Brain Nerve Center, Saiseikai Yokohamashi Tobu Hospital, Yokohama 230-8765, Japan; Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; Department of Clinical Research, Tochigi Medical Center, National Hospital Organization, Utsunomiya 320-8580, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Momiyama
- Division of Cerebral Structure, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan; Department of Pharmacology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan.
| | - Takuro Hayashi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo Medical Center, National Hospital Organization, Tokyo 152-8902, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kawase
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tajiri N, Acosta S, Portillo-Gonzales GS, Aguirre D, Reyes S, Lozano D, Pabon M, Dela Peña I, Ji X, Yasuhara T, Date I, Solomita MA, Antonucci I, Stuppia L, Kaneko Y, Borlongan CV. Therapeutic outcomes of transplantation of amniotic fluid-derived stem cells in experimental ischemic stroke. Front Cell Neurosci 2014; 8:227. [PMID: 25165432 PMCID: PMC4131212 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2014] [Accepted: 07/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulating preclinical evidence suggests the use of amnion as a source of stem cells for investigations of basic science concepts related to developmental cell biology, but also for stem cells’ therapeutic applications in treating human disorders. We previously reported isolation of viable rat amniotic fluid-derived stem (AFS) cells. Subsequently, we recently reported the therapeutic benefits of intravenous transplantation of AFS cells in a rodent model of ischemic stroke. Parallel lines of investigations have provided safety and efficacy of stem cell therapy for treating stroke and other neurological disorders. This review article highlights the need for investigations of mechanisms underlying AFS cells’ therapeutic benefits and discusses lab-to-clinic translational gating items in an effort to optimize the clinical application of the cell transplantation for stroke.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Tajiri
- Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Sandra Acosta
- Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Gabriel S Portillo-Gonzales
- Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Daniela Aguirre
- Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Stephanny Reyes
- Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Diego Lozano
- Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Mibel Pabon
- Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Ike Dela Peña
- Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Xunming Ji
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University Beijing, China
| | - Takao Yasuhara
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Okayama, Japan
| | - Isao Date
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Okayama, Japan
| | - Marianna A Solomita
- Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Ivana Antonucci
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, DISPUTer, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, "G. d 'Annunzio" University Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Liborio Stuppia
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, DISPUTer, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, "G. d 'Annunzio" University Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Yuji Kaneko
- Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Cesar V Borlongan
- Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine Tampa, FL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Tajiri N, Acosta S, Glover LE, Bickford PC, Jacotte Simancas A, Yasuhara T, Date I, Solomita MA, Antonucci I, Stuppia L, Kaneko Y, Borlongan CV. Intravenous grafts of amniotic fluid-derived stem cells induce endogenous cell proliferation and attenuate behavioral deficits in ischemic stroke rats. PLoS One 2012; 7:e43779. [PMID: 22912905 PMCID: PMC3422299 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2012] [Accepted: 07/25/2012] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
We recently reported isolation of viable rat amniotic fluid-derived stem (AFS) cells [1]. Here, we tested the therapeutic benefits of AFS cells in a rodent model of ischemic stroke. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats received a 60-minute middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). Thirty-five days later, animals exhibiting significant motor deficits received intravenous transplants of rat AFS cells or vehicle. At days 60–63 post-MCAo, significant recovery of motor and cognitive function was seen in stroke animals transplanted with AFS cells compared to vehicle-infused stroke animals. Infarct volume, as revealed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, was significantly reduced, coupled with significant increments in the cell proliferation marker, Ki67, and the neuronal marker, MAP2, in the dentate gyrus (DG) [2] and the subventricular zone (SVZ) of AFS cell-transplanted stroke animals compared to vehicle-infused stroke animals. A significantly higher number of double-labeled Ki67/MAP2-positive cells and a similar trend towards increased Ki67/MAP2 double-labeling were observed in the DG and SVZ of AFS cell-transplanted stroke animals, respectively, compared to vehicle-infused stroke animals. This study reports the therapeutic potential of AFS cell transplantation in stroke animals, possibly via enhancement of endogenous repair mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Tajiri
- Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Sandra Acosta
- Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Loren E. Glover
- Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Paula C. Bickford
- Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Alejandra Jacotte Simancas
- Departamento de Psicobiologia y Metodologia de las Cièncias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Takao Yasuhara
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Isao Date
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Marianna A. Solomita
- Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, G. d'Annunzio University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, School of Advanced Studies G.d'Annunzio, Chieti University and Stem TeCh Group, Aging Research Center, Chieti- Pescara, Italy
| | - Ivana Antonucci
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, G. d'Annunzio University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, School of Advanced Studies G.d'Annunzio, Chieti University and Stem TeCh Group, Aging Research Center, Chieti- Pescara, Italy
| | - Liborio Stuppia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, G. d'Annunzio University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, School of Advanced Studies G.d'Annunzio, Chieti University and Stem TeCh Group, Aging Research Center, Chieti- Pescara, Italy
| | - Yuji Kaneko
- Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Cesar V. Borlongan
- Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Abstract
Vascular imaging is crucial in the clinical diagnosis and management of cerebrovascular diseases, such as brain arteriovenous malformations (BAVMs). Animal models are necessary for studying the etiopathology and potential therapies of cerebrovascular diseases. Imaging the vasculature in large animals is relatively easy. However, developing vessel imaging methods of murine brain disease models is desirable due to the cost and availability of genetically-modified mouse lines. Imaging the murine cerebral vascular tree is a challenge. In humans and larger animals, the gold standard for assessing the angioarchitecture at the macrovascular (conductance) level is x-ray catheter contrast-based angiography, a method not suited for small rodents. In this article, we present a method of cerebrovascular casting that produces a durable skeleton of the entire vascular bed, including arteries, veins, and capillaries that may be analyzed using many different modalities. Complete casting of the microvessels of the mouse cerebrovasculature can be difficult; however, these challenges are addressed in this step-by-step protocol. Through intracardial perfusion of the vascular casting material, all vessels of the body are casted. The brain can then be removed and clarified using the organic solvent methyl salicylate. Three dimensional imaging of the brain blood vessels can be visualized simply and inexpensively with any conventional brightfield microscope or dissecting microscope. The casted cerebrovasculature can also be imaged and quantified using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT)1. In addition, after being imaged, the casted brain can be embedded in paraffin for histological analysis. The benefit of this vascular casting method as compared to other techniques is its broad adaptation to various analytic tools, including brightfield microscopic analysis, CT scanning due to the radiopaque characteristic of the material, as well as histological and immunohistochemical analysis. This efficient use of tissue can save animal usage and reduce costs. We have recently demonstrated application of this method to visualize the irregular blood vessels in a mouse model of adult BAVM at a microscopic level2, and provide additional images of the malformed vessels imaged by micro-CT scan. Although this method has drawbacks and may not be ideal for all types of analyses, it is a simple, practical technique that can be easily learned and widely applied to vascular casting of blood vessels throughout the body.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Espen J Walker
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Stroh A, Tsai HC, Wang LP, Zhang F, Kressel J, Aravanis A, Santhanam N, Deisseroth K, Konnerth A, Schneider MB. Tracking stem cell differentiation in the setting of automated optogenetic stimulation. Stem Cells 2011; 29:78-88. [PMID: 21280159 DOI: 10.1002/stem.558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Membrane depolarization has been shown to play an important role in the neural differentiation of stem cells and in the survival and function of mature neurons. Here, we introduce a microbial opsin into ESCs and develop optogenetic technology for stem cell engineering applications, with an automated system for noninvasive modulation of ESC differentiation employing fast optogenetic control of ion flux. Mouse ESCs were stably transduced with channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2)-yellow fluorescent protein and purified by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). Illumination of resulting ChR2-ESCs with pulses of blue light triggered inward currents. These labeled ESCs retained the capability to differentiate into functional mature neurons, assessed by the presence of voltage-gated sodium currents, action potentials, fast excitatory synaptic transmission, and expression of mature neuronal proteins and neuronal morphology. We designed and tested an apparatus for optically stimulating ChR2-ESCs during chronic neuronal differentiation, with high-speed optical switching on a custom robotic stage with environmental chamber for automated stimulation and imaging over days, with tracking for increased expression of neural and neuronal markers. These data point to potential uses of ChR2 technology for chronic and temporally precise noninvasive optical control of ESCs both in vitro and in vivo, ranging from noninvasive control of stem cell differentiation to causal assessment of the specific contribution of transplanted cells to tissue and network function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Albrecht Stroh
- Department of Bioengineering, Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kang HC, Kim DS, Kim JY, Kim HS, Lim BY, Kim HD, Lee JS, Eun BL, Kim DW. Behavioral improvement after transplantation of neural precursors derived from embryonic stem cells into the globally ischemic brain of adolescent rats. Brain Dev 2010; 32:658-68. [PMID: 19854013 DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2009.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2009] [Revised: 09/11/2009] [Accepted: 09/11/2009] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We intended to determine whether transplanted neural precursors, derived from mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, can migrate and differentiate into mature neurons and glial cells in damaged brains and improve functional deficits caused by global cerebral ischemic injury in adolescent rats. METHODS Global ischemia was induced using the four-vessel occlusion method. ES cells that display enhanced expression of yellow fluorescent protein were co-cultured in N2 supplemented media with PA6 cells that had stromal derived inducing activity. Neural precursor cells were directly transplanted bilaterally into hippocampal C3 areas 2 weeks after induction of global ischemia. Assessments of the Morris water-maze test at eight weeks and, the Open field activity levels at two, four, six and eight weeks after transplantation were carried out according to standard methods. RESULTS From neural precursors, we were able to generate neural lineages, including neurons and glial cells in vitro. Eight weeks following transplantation, cellular migration as well as generation of neural cells including neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes developed from the grafted ES cell-derived neural precursors were observed. Cell-transplanted animals exhibited enhanced functional recovery on sensorimotor and behavioral tests, compared to vehicle-treated control animals. CONCLUSION Therefore, transplantation of mouse ES cell-derived neural precursor cells shows promise for improving recovery after global ischemia in adolescent rats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hoon-Chul Kang
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Epilepsy Clinics, Severance Children's Hospital, Brain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Shinchon Dong, Seodaemun Gu, Seoul 120-752, Republic of Korea
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Mine Y, Hayashi T, Yamada M, Okano H, Kawase T. ENVIRONMENTAL CUE-DEPENDENT DOPAMINERGIC NEURONAL DIFFERENTIATION AND FUNCTIONAL EFFECT OF GRAFTED NEUROEPITHELIAL STEM CELLS IN PARKINSONIAN BRAIN. Neurosurgery 2009; 65:741-53; discussion 753. [DOI: 10.1227/01.neu.0000351281.45986.76] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yutaka Mine
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuro Hayashi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Eiju General Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Motoyuki Yamada
- Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo-Kita Social Insurance Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kawase
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Liu W, Jiang X, Fu X, Cui S, Du M, Cai Y, Xu R. Bone marrow stromal cells can be delivered to the site of traumatic brain injury via intrathecal transplantation in rabbits. Neurosci Lett 2008; 434:160-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2007.12.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2007] [Revised: 12/11/2007] [Accepted: 12/28/2007] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
9
|
Zheng T, Rossignol C, Leibovici A, Anderson KJ, Steindler DA, Weiss MD. Transplantation of multipotent astrocytic stem cells into a rat model of neonatal hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy. Brain Res 2006; 1112:99-105. [PMID: 16919606 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2006.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2005] [Revised: 06/23/2006] [Accepted: 07/04/2006] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in neonates results in long-term disabilities. Stem cell therapy may offer an attractive treatment for HIE. Multipotent astrocytic stem cells (MASCs) from mice transplanted into a rat model of hypoxia-ischemia (HI) survived the transplantation and showed signs of migration towards the injured cortex. Some MASCs around the injured cortex differentiated into neuronal and astrocytic phenotypes. MASCs transplanted into non-ischemic pups survived but retained their astrocytic phenotype. These data suggest that transplanted MASCs can survive and differentiate into neurons and astrocytes in the post-injury milieu of the neonatal brain injured by HI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tong Zheng
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Uchida K, Momiyama T, Okano H, Yuzaki M, Koizumi A, Mine Y, Kawase T. Potential functional neural repair with grafted neural stem cells of early embryonic neuroepithelial origin. Neurosci Res 2005; 52:276-86. [PMID: 15927727 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2005.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2005] [Revised: 03/22/2005] [Accepted: 03/31/2005] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The fate of grafted neuroepithelial stem cells in the normal mature brain environment was assessed both morphologically and electrophysiologically to confirm their feasibility in the functional repair of damaged neural circuitry. The neuroepithelial stem cells were harvested from the mesencephalic neural plate of transgenic green fluorescence protein-carrying rat embryos, and implanted into the normal adult rat striatum. The short- and long-term differentiation pattern of donor-derived cells was precisely monitored immunohistochemically. The functional abilities of the donor-derived cells and communication between them and the host were investigated using host-rat brain slices incorporating the graft with whole-cell patch-clamp recording. Vigorous differentiation of the neuroepithelial stem cells into mostly neurons was noted in the short-term with positive staining for tyrosine hydroxylase, suggesting that the donor-derived cells were exclusively following their genetically programmed fate, together with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate expression. In the long-term, the large number of donor-derived neurons was sustained, but the staining pattern showed expression of dopamine- and adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate-regulated phosphoprotein 32, suggesting that some neurons were following environmental cues, together with the appearance of some cholinergic neurons. Some donor-derived astrocytes were also seen in the graft. Many action potentials indicating the presence of both dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic patterns could be elicited and recorded in the donor-derived neurons in addition to spontaneous glutamatergic and GABAergic post-synaptic currents which were strongly shown to be of host origin. Neuroepithelial stem cells are therefore an attractive candidate as a source of donor material for intracerebral grafting in functional repair.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Koichi Uchida
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|