Fetal rat neural progenitor cell transplantation after spinal cord injury improves motor recovery following optogenetic stimulation.

ABSTRACT: Spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts communication between the brain and the spinal circuits, resulting in severe motor, sensory, and autonomic dysfunctions. Transplantation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) has been demonstrated to provide multiple benefits; however, limited graft survival and neuronal differentiation must be overcome to achieve improved results. Here, we explore the optogenetic modulation of rat spinal cord-derived NPC expressing channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) through adeno-associated virus serotype 9-mediated transduction, transplanted into the sub-acute stage after SCI. Daily blue-light stimulation and ChR2-dependent activation control of the modified NPC significantly enhanced locomotor skills, run speed, sustained walking coordination, and body stability in a rat SCI model.

SUBMITTER: Sanchez-Martin MDM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12848215 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature