Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmachology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
2
Cognitive Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmachology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
3
Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
4
Cognitive Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
5
Hydatid Disease Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Abstract
Objective: Stem cells (SCs) can improve the functional defects of brain injury. Rodents use their whiskers to get tactile
information from their surroundings. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the transplantation of SCs into the
lesioned barrel cortex can help neuronal function in the contralateral cortex.
Materials and Methods: Sixteen male Wistar rats (200-230 g) were used in this experimental study. We induced
a mechanical lesion in the right barrel cortex area of rats by removing this area by a 3 mm skin punch. Four groups
containing one intact group of rats: group 1: control, and three lesion groups, group 2: lesion+un-differentiated dental
pulp SCs (U-DPSCs), group 3: lesion+differentiated dental pulp SCs (D-DPSCs), and group 4: cell medium (vehicle)
that were injected in the lesion area. Three weeks after transplantation of SCs or cell medium, the rats’ responses of
left barrel cortical neurons to controlled deflections of right whiskers were recorded by using the extracellular single-unit
recordings technique.
Results: The results showed that the neural spontaneous activity and response magnitude of intact barrel cortex
neurons in the lesion group decreased significantly (P<0.05) compared to the control group while ON and OFF responses
were improved in the D-DPSCs (P<0.001) group compared to the vehicle group three weeks after transplantation.
Conclusion: Transplantation of dental pulp mesenchymal SCs significantly improved the neural responses of the left
barrel cortex that was depressed in the vehicle group.
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