The effect of intrathecal delivery of bone marrow stromal cells on hippocampal neurons in rat model of Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVES: Intracerebral injection of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) is being investigated as a therapeutic tool to prevent Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our aim was to investigate the effects of BMSCs by intrathecal injection in AD rat model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: BMSCs were obtained from the bone marrow of Wistar rat and transplanted into AD rat model via intrathecal injection. The rat model had received an injection of β amyloid into the hippocampus for histological and immunohistochemical studies.

RESULTS: Histological examination of the brains in transplanted rats compared to controls demonstrated the migration of BrdU-labeled BMSCs from the site of delivery, confirmed the differentiation of BMSCs transplanted cells into the cholinergic neurons, and increased number of healthy and decreased number of dark neurons.

CONCLUSION: Our results showed that BMSCs intratechal administration could be a promising method for treatment of Alzheimer's disease in rat model.