Evaluating the effect of transplanting umbilical cord matrix stem cells on ischemic tolerance in an animal model of stroke

ABSTRACT

Objective

Stroke, a cerebrovascular disease, has been introduced as the second cause of death and physical disability in the world. Recently, cell-based therapy has been considered by the scientific community as a promising strategy for reducing ischemic damages. The stem cells of the umbilical cord release growth and neurotrophic factors. The remarkable properties of these cells are the reason why they were selected as a potential candidate in the present research.

Methods

In this study, the impact of transplanting umbilical cord stem cells on injuries resulting from ischemia was investigated. The male rats were categorized into three major. Using stereotaxic surgery, stem cells were injected to the right striatum of the brain. One week after transplantation, cerebral ischemic induction surgery was performed. The rats in the transplantation + ischemia group were separately divided into distinct sub-groups to explore the score of the neurological deficits, infarction volume, integrity of the blood-brain barrier, and brain edema.

Results

In this study, a significant decrease was observed in the neurological deficits of the transplantation + ischemia group compared with those of the control group. Similarly, the volume of infarction, the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, and edema were significantly reduced in the transplantation + ischemia group in comparison with those of the control group.

Conclusion

The pretreatment of the transplanted umbilical cord stem cells in the striatum of ischemic rats possibly leads to restorative events, exerting a decreasing effect on cell death. Subsequently, these events may improve the motor ability and reduce ischemic injuries.

KEYWORDS:

• Umbilical Cord
• cerebral Ischemia
• neurological Severity Scores
• infarct Volume
• blood-Brain Barrier
• edema

Acknowledgments

We should thank the Center of Excellence in Cognitive Neuropsychology in Shahid Beheshti University of Tehran for their supports.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mahmoud Ramdan

Mahmoud Ramdan is currently a postgraduate student at the Department of Animal Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University. He received his BSc Biology from Al-furat University in 2011from Syria and MSc Biology from Shahid Beheshti University in 2018. He has been a lecturer at Faculty of Science - Department of Biology at Al-furat University from 2011 and is currently pursuing his PhD. His research interest includes stem cells and miRNA-mediated neuroprotection in stroke. Mahmoud Ramdan implemented the project.

Mohammad Reza Bigdeli

Dr. Mohammad Reza Bigdeli, PhD., graduated in medical physiology from Tarbiat Maodares University. Now, he works, as associate professor, in Shahid Beheshti University. His career fields and interests include evaluation of pathophysiology of neurological disorders, especially stroke, neuroprotection, and cognitive sciences.

Sepideh Khaksar

Dr. Sepideh Khaksar, PhD., graduated in animal physiology from Shahid Beheshti University, Faculty of Biological Sciences in 2015. She, as assistance professor, works in Alzahra University, Faculty of Biological Sciences. Her research interests are based on cannabinoids, neuroscience, and neurodegenerative diseases including cerebral ischemia, epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s. Sepideh Khaksar, as the advisor, contributed to the giving the advice in the project, analysis, and writing manuscript.

Abbas Aliaghaei

Dr. Abbas Aliaghaei, PhD., is associate professor at department of biology and anatomical sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. His research interests are cell culture and neurological sciences.