Abstract:

Objective To observe the effects of transplantation of amniotic epithelial cells(AECs) on nerve regeneration after spinal cord hemisected injury in rats and provide experimental basis for repair of SCI with AECs.Methods The models of spinal cord hemisection-injure were established with 30 male Wistar rats. The gelatin sponge with or without  AECs were respectively implanted into the hemisectedadult rat spinal cord. The SCI model group and the  sham operation group were established as control groups. Two  or four  weeks after the transplantation,the graft/spinal cord tissue structures were observed by routine histological methods;the  neural filament( NF),serotonin (5-HT),calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP)-positive nerve fibers and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells in graft / spinal cord were observed by immunofluorescence staining. Fluororuby tracing method was used to observe the regeneration of the nerve fibers in the transplants. The BBB test was used to evaluate the  motorfunctional recoveration of the  hind limbs in rats. Results AECs transplantation promoted the regeneration of nerve fibers in the spinal cord itself,and promoted the regeneration of the NF,5-HT,CGRP positive nerve fibers. The regenerating nerve fibers extended through the GFAP-positive area and went into the grafts with AECs.The number of NF positive never fibers in grafts in AECs transplantion group was more than that in gelatinsponge group(P<0.05). There were significant differences of the BBB scores between AECs transplantation group,gelatin sponge group,SCI group and sham operation group(P<0.05).The BBB scores showed no significant differences in functional recovery between AECs transplantion group and gelation sponge and SCI,groups(P>0.05). Conclusion AECs transplantation can promote the  nerve fiber regeneration after SCI.

Key words: spinal cord injury；amniotic epithelial cell；cell transplantation； neural regeneration;rats,Wistar