The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of transplanted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) administered via internal jugular vein injection, carotid artery injection, or intraventricular
transplantation for the treatment of
cerebral infarction, which was modeled in rats. The neurological scores of the treated rats and the distribution of the transplanted cells (GFP-labeled) in the
infarction area were evaluated. The
cerebral infarction model was produced by inserting a modified Zea-longa
suture, which generated
middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The GFP-labeled BMSCs were transplanted through the jugular vein or the carotid artery or by stereotactic intraventricular delivery to the
infarction models 1 week after the
cerebral infarction was established. The 'Nerve Function Score' of the model rats was recorded before and after BMSC
transplantation. Brain tissue sections were examined under a fluorescence microscope. We determined that the transplanted BMSCs rescued brain function, which was indicated by a decrease in the neurological scores (P<0·05) following BMSC
transplantation. The effect of BMSC
transplantation was reflected in decreases in the neurological score in the intraventricular
transplantation group, the carotid artery
transplantation group, and the jugular vein graft group*. The transplanted BMSCs were able to migrate to the
brain injury area and the cortex and survived the
infarction; thus, BMSCs may promote the recovery of nerve function.