Restoration of motor control and dopaminergic activity in rats with unilateral 6-hydroxy-dopamine lesions. (May 2011)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Skinner, Stephen JM; Lin, Hai; Geaney, Marilyn S; Gorba, Thorsten; Elliott, Robert B; Tan, Paul LJ
• Is Part Of: Regenerative medicine. Volume 6:Number 3(2011)
• Page Start: 319
• Page End: 326
• Publication Date: 2011-05
• Subjects: amphetamine -- behavior -- choroid plexus cells -- dopaminergic -- encapsulation -- motor control -- neuroregeneration -- neurotrophin -- Parkinson's disease -- tyrosine hydroxylase; Cellular therapy -- Periodicals; Stem cells -- Transplantation -- Periodicals; Degeneration (Pathology) -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Regeneration (Biology) -- Periodicals; 611.018
• DOI: 10.2217/rme.11.15
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1746-0751

Abstract

Aim: To restore motor function and dopaminergic activity in the nigrostriatum of rats with unilateral 6-hydroxy-dopamine lesions using implants of encapsulated porcine choroid plexus cells.Materials & methods: Neonatal porcine choroid plexus cells were prepared and maintained in culture, then encapsulated within alginate–polyornithine capsules (600–660 µm). Rats were unilaterally injected with 6-hydroxy-dopamine into the striatum. Those with lesions verified after 2 and 4 weeks were selected for experiments. Rats were implanted adjacent to the lesion with ten capsules 2–4 days later with (treated, n = 12) or without (control, n = 10) choroid plexus cells.Results: The choroid plexus cells were shown to produce a wide range of neurorestorative proteins. The treated group had a 60% improvement in motor behavior compared with the control group (p < 0.01). The treated group also had a significant improvement in nigrostriatal dopaminergic activity (31%, p < 0.02).Conclusion: Capsules containing porcine choroid plexus cells release therapeutic molecules that stimulate regeneration of the lesioned nigrostriatum in rats.