Effect of the Xenograft Transplantation of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells on Anxiety and Memory in Trimethyltin Induced-Alzheimer Disease Model

Background and Objectives: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the most common cause of dementia. The characteristics of this disease are amnesia, cognitive and verbal disorders, memory deficit, paranoia, depression, and anxiety. In this study, the alterations of cognitive-behavioral and nuclear factor kappa (NF-κ) factor, were investigated following the xenogenic transplantation of human dental pulp of stem cells on the AD animal model.   Methods: In this experimental study, 18 male Wistar rats (weighing 200±20g), were used. The animals were randomly divided into three groups of 6 each: control (without any treatment), sham (TMT+PBS), and experimental (TMT+DPSCs). The experimental and sham groups received trimethyltin (TMT) intraperitoneally (dose, 8mg/kg bw). Then, the anxiety level, working and spatial memory, were assessed with Elevated Plus and Y Maze tests. Also, the level of NF-κ was assessed using ELISA method.   Results: Intraperitoneal administration of TMT caused a significant increase (p<0.05) in the time spent in closed arm of the elevated plus maze and a significant decrease in the alteration behavior and spatial memory in the sham group compared to the control group. On the other hand, following stem cell transplantation, a significant decrease was observed in the anxiety level and working and spatial memory in the experimental group compared to the sham group. Also, the NF-κ level significantly increased in the sham group in comparison with the control and experimental groups (p<0.05).   Conclusion: Xenogenic transplantation of the human dental pulp stem cells has an improvement effect on the symptoms of AD. Thus, transplantation of this stem cells line is promising for the treatment of cognitive and psychological diseases.