Background & Aims: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most catastrophic
ailments that can afflict mankind. Different types of therapeutic methods are
usually unsatisfactory. In the present study, we assessed the therapeutic effects of
methylprednisolone (MP), vitamin C (VC), and bone marrow-derived
mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in an experimental spinal cord injury model in
rats. Material & Methods: Eighty adult male rats were divided into seven groups:
control, SCI, MP, VC, combined MP and VC, BMSCs, and combined BMSCs and
VC. Locomotor recovery was assessed using the Basso Mouse Scale (BMS).
Spinal cord tissue was processed for histological and immunohistochemical studies
and for real-time PCR quantitative expression of TGF-β, TNF-α, and MMP-2
genes. Results: Combined MP and VC- induced more improvement in histological
and immunohistochemical aspects than MP or VC alone. BMSCs induced marked
improvement in locomotor activity and histological and immunohistochemical
aspects and a significant decrease in TGF-β, TNF-α, and MMP-2 gene expression
compared with SCI group. Combined BMSCs and VC- induced more improvement
in all parameters compared with BMSCs group. Conclusion: VC augments the
therapeutic effect of BMSCs on SCI probably due to its antioxidant effects. |
