Publications by authors named "Anna Pniak"

Studies of bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) transplanted into the spinal cord-injured rat give mixed results: some groups report improved locomotor recovery while others only demonstrate improved histological appearance of the lesion. These studies show no clear correlation between neurological improvements and MSC survival. We examined whether MSC survival in the injured spinal cord could be enhanced by closely matching donor and recipient mice for genetic background and marker gene expression and whether exposure of MSCs to a neural environment (Schwann cells) prior to transplantation would improve their survival or therapeutic effects.

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Purpose: The objective of this study was to track the fate of iron-labeled, multipotent stromal cells (MSC) after their direct transplantation into mice with spinal cord injuries using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Procedures: Mice with spinal cord injuries received a direct transplant of (1) live MSC labeled with micron-sized iron oxide particles (MPIO); (2) dead, MPIO-labeled MSC; (3) unlabeled MSC; or (4) free MPIO and were imaged at 3 T for 6 weeks after transplantation.

Results: Live, iron-labeled MSC appeared as a well-defined region of signal loss in the mouse spinal cord at the site of transplant.

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The feasibility of performing high-resolution in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualize the injured mouse spinal cord using a three-dimensional (3D)-FIESTA (fast imaging employing steady state acquisition) pulse sequence, in a clip compression injury model, is presented. Images were acquired using a 3-Tesla clinical whole-body MR system equipped with a high-performance gradient coil insert. High-resolution mouse cord images were used to detect and monitor the cord lesions for 6 weeks after spinal cord injury (SCI).

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Motor axon projections are topographically ordered. Medial motor column axons project to axial muscles, whereas lateral motor column axons project to limb muscles and, along the rostrocaudal axis of the animal, the more rostral motor neuron pools project to more rostral muscle targets. We have shown that EphA3 is specifically expressed in the developing medial motor column and have postulated that EphA3 might be responsible for directing their axons to axial muscle targets.

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The goal of the study was to provide evidence that the production of 50-kHz calls by adult rats is driven by potential or direct social contacts. The calls have been studied during daily visits to a cage by single or paired rats. Repeated exposure of rats to the cage frequently visited by other rats or direct contact between rats significantly increased the number of 50-kHz calls.

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