Potential for Cell-Transplant Therapy with Human Neuronal Precursors to Treat Neuropathic Pain in Models of PNS and CNS Injury: Comparison of hNT2.17 and hNT2.19 Cell Lines
Figure 9
Percent comparison of open-field motor behaviors after severe contusive SCI and following either intraspinal or intrathecal transplant of hNT2.19 cells in vivo: location of graft of hNT2.19. Rats were injured with a weight-drop device (NYU impactor, 25 mm; severe contusive SCI) in a rat model of SCI and chronic motor dysfunction. Some rats received only a laminectomy, and data are a percent of laminectomy control data (for each independent transplant location experiment) for open-field BBB scores (a) and BBB subscores (b) after contusive SCI only and SCI + hNT2.19 cell grafts, where grafts are placed either intraspinally or in the lumbar subarachnoid space (intrathecally). Gross open-field motor behavioral results (a) (BBB) showing gradual recovery of motor scores beginning at 1 week after SCI, with additional partial and persistent recovery with the addition of intraspinal hNT2.19 grafts. There is no improvement over SCI alone when the grafts are placed intrathecally. Data represent the mean value ( animals in each group) at each time point before and for 56 days after SCI. The BBB subscore (b) demonstrated a significant improvement in the subscore, beginning at 2 weeks after SCI, with the addition of the intraspinal, but not the intrathecally-placed hNT2.19 cells. Data represent the mean value ( animals in each group) at each time point before and for 56 days after SCI. Only intraspinally placed hNT2.19 cells improved BBB and BBB subscores.
