LacZ-expressing olfactory ensheathing cells do not associate with myelinated axons after implantation into the compressed spinal cord.

ABSTRACT: Studies have shown that implanting olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) may be a promising therapeutic strategy to promote functional recovery after spinal cord injury. Several fundamental questions remain, however, regarding their in vivo interactions in the damaged spinal cord. We have induced a clip compression injury at the T10 level of the spinal cord in adult rats. After a delay of 1 week, OECs isolated from embryonic day 18 rats were implanted into the cystic cavity that had formed at the site of injury. Before implantation, OECs were infected with a LacZ-expressing retrovirus. At 3 weeks after implantation, LacZ-expressing OECs survived the implantation procedure and remained localized to the cystic cavity. At the electron microscopic level, the cystic cavity had clusters of LacZ-exp

SUBMITTER: Boyd JG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC357069 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature