Bone marrow stromal cells transplantation combined with ultrashortwave therapy promotes functional recovery on spinal cord injury in rats.

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated the effects of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) transplantation combined with low dose ultrashortwave (USW) radiation on functional recovery from spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 64) were randomly divided into five groups: sham-operated, as well as control, USW, BMSCs, and BMSCs + USW that were subjected to spinal cord contusion. BMSCs were transplanted into rats in the BMSCs and BMSCs+USW groups, while those in the USW and BMSCs + USW were exposed to radiation; Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) tests were performed before the operation and at 1-week intervals after SCI for 7 weeks. 7 weeks later, animals were assessed footprint pattern, motor evoked potential (MEP), histological features, and expression of the ED1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), markers of activated macrophages and astrocytes, respectively, in the lesion area. BBB scores were higher in the BMSCs + USW than in the BMSCs and control groups. The USW and BMSCs + USW groups had improved coordination compared to the BMSCs and control groups (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively, vs. control). BMSCs + USW rats had a lower ratio of lesion/cavity to spinal cord area than the other injured rats, and also had expression of GFAP in transplanted BMSCs. All treatment groups had lower ED1 expression and MEP latency than the controls (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). The results indicate that BMSCs transplantation combined with USW radiation is more effective than either treatment alone in promoting functional recovery after SCI, possibly due to concomitant suppression of inflammation and spinal cord repair.