In this study, the
therapeutic effect of olfactory ensheathing cells (OEC)
transplantation on brain damage was evaluated on acute
carbon monoxide (CO)
poisoning rat model. Two weeks after primary culture, OECs were microinjected into hippocampus of CO
poisoning rats. Survival of OECs in the host was observed and quantified. OECs survived at 2 weeks, but surviving cell number was found sharply decreased at 6 weeks and reduced to less than 10(3) at 8 weeks after
transplantation. At 2 weeks after
transplantation, motor function test and
cerebral edema assay were performed and followed by pathological examination including
hematoxylin and
eosin and immunohistochemistry staining to observe the neuron injury and
synapsin I and growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) expression. Furthermore,
biomarkers of oxidative stress and apoptosis related
proteins in the hippocampus were detected. The results showed that CO exposure led to neurological dysfunction and
cerebral edema in rats. After OEC
transplantation, neurological function was significantly improved and the
cerebral edema was alleviated. In addition, the numbers of neurons and Nissl bodies were increased and
synapsin I and
GAP-43 protein expressions were upregulated in the hippocampus. Compared with CO poisoned rats,
superoxide dismutase activity and
glutathione content were both increased and methane dicarboxylic
aldehyde level was decreased in the hippocampus of OEC transplanted rats. Moreover, OEC
transplantation reduced apoptosis induced by CO exposure. The Bcl-2 expression was significantly upregulated and Bax expression was significantly downregulated. The activity of
caspase-3 and the cleaved-
poly ADP-ribose polymerase expression were decreased. Taken together, our data suggest that OEC attenuates brain damages induced by acute CO
poisoning within 2 weeks after
transplantation.