ORGINAL ARTICLE   

Journal of Neurosurgical Sciences 2022 February;66(1):40-8

DOI: 10.23736/S0390-5616.20.05026-2

Copyright © 2020 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Effect of mesenchymal stem cells therapy in experimental kaolin induced syringomyelia model

Ercan BAL ¹ ✉, Şahin HANALIOĞLU ², Çağla Z. KÖPRÜ ³, Sevil KÖSE ⁴, Ahmet T. BAŞAK ⁵, Sibel B. PEHLIVAN ⁶, Duygu U. ÇETINKAYA ⁷, Nuhan PURALI ⁸, Petek KORKUSUZ ⁹, Gökhan BOZKURT ¹⁰

¹ Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey; ² Department of Neurosurgery, Hacettepe University School of Hospital, Ankara, Turkey; ³ Department of Histology and Embryology, Yüksek İhtisas University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey; ⁴ Department of Medical Biology, Atılım University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey; ⁵ Department of Neurosurgery, Medipol Mega Hospital University of School, İstanbul, Turkey; ⁶ Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey; ⁷ Center for Stem Cell Research and Development (PEDI-STEM), Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey; ⁸ Department of Biophysics, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey; ⁹ Department of Histology and Embryology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey; ¹⁰ Department of Neurosurgery, Memorial Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey

BACKGROUND: Syringomyelia is a pathological cavitation of the spinal cord. In this study, we examined whether a syrinx cavity would limit itself with axonal regeneration and stem cell activity in the cavity, and we evaluated subjects on a functional basis.
METHODS: Groups were designated as kaolin, trauma, kaolin-trauma, and saline groups. Also divided out of the syringomyelia treated groups were those given human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). All groups were evaluated with immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, confocal microscopy and functionally.
RESULTS: The kaolin-trauma group had a significant correction of BBB score with hMSCs therapy. The syrinx cavity measurements showed significant improvement in groups treated with hMSCs. The tissue surrounding the syrinx cavity, however, appeared to be better organized in groups treated with hMSCs. The process of repair and regeneration of damaged axons in the lesion were more improved in groups treated with hMSCs. Using confocal microscopy, fluorescence of hMSCs was observed in the central canal, in the ependymal tissue, and around the lesion.
CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that axonal repair accelerated in groups receiving stem cells, and thus, stem cells may be effective in recovery of neural tissue and myelin damage in syringomyelia.

KEY WORDS: Confocal microscopy; Kaolin; Mesenchymal stem cells; Syringomyelia