Bone marrow stromal cells transplantation combined with ultrashortwave therapy promotes functional recovery on spinal cord injury in rats.

This study investigated the effects of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) transplantation combined with low dose ultrashortwave (USW) radiation on functional recovery from spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 64) were randomly divided into five groups: sham-operated, as well as control, USW, BMSCs, and BMSCs + USW that were subjected to spinal cord contusion. BMSCs were transplanted into rats in the BMSCs and BMSCs+USW groups, while those in the USW and BMSCs + USW were exposed to radiation; Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) tests were performed before the operation and at 1-week intervals after SCI for 7 weeks.

Grafted bone marrow stromal cells: a contributor to glial repair after spinal cord injury.

In the CNS, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglias are involved in not only development but also pathology such as spinal cord injury (SCI). Glial cells play dual roles (negative vs. positive effects) in these processes.