Central Neuropathic Pain After Graft of Bone Marrow Stromal Cells in the Spinal Cord Contusion of Rat

Purpose: The purpose of this study was the investigation of thermal and mechanical Allodynia after BMSCs grafting in the Spinal Cord Contusion of rat Materials and Methods: In this study used 40 female Sprague- Dawley 6-8 week old that 33 rats received vertebral laminectomy to expose spinal cord (L1 vertebral level). The cord was then contused with the weight drop device. Experimental groups consist group 1 (Intact) rats without intervention (n=7); group 2 and 3: 16 rats given PBS alone without cell administration respectively 10 rats intravenously (vehicle1) and 6 rats intraspinally (vehicle2); group 4 and 5: 17 rats given BMSCs after 4 passages respectively 10 rats intravenously and 7 rats intraspinally. Grafts were done 1 week after injury. Behavioral tests were done for 10 weeks (after injury). For thermal testing, rats were placed on a hotplate. Mechanical sensitivity was assessed with Von Frey Hairs. Tracing of the cells at the injured site was performed immunohistochemically and then astrocyte differentiation was detected with the double-Staining method. Results: BMSCs-engrafted rats showed significant decrease in withdrawal threshold and time latency to licking of hindpaws in comparison with vehicle groups. Also there was astrocyte differentiation. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that intraveous and intraspinal grafts of BMSCs in the cases of spinal cord contusion enhance thermal and mechanical Allodynia. Also Allodynia could be positively correlated with the number of astrocytes.