Erythropoietin amplifies stroke-induced oligodendrogenesis in the rat.

Background: Erythropoietin (EPO), a hematopoietic cytokine, enhances neurogenesis and angiogenesis during stroke recovery. In the present study, we examined the effect of EPO on oligodendrogenesis in a rat model of embolic focal cerebral ischemia.

Methodology And Principal Findings: Recombinant human EPO (rhEPO) at a dose of 5,000 U/kg (n = 18) or saline (n = 18) was intraperitoneally administered daily for 7 days starting 24 h after stroke onset.

Patterns and dynamics of subventricular zone neuroblast migration in the ischemic striatum of the adult mouse.

The migratory behavior of neuroblasts after a stroke is poorly understood. Using time-lapse microscopy, we imaged migration of neuroblasts and cerebral vessels in living brain slices of adult doublecortin (DCX, a marker of neuroblasts) enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) transgenic mice that were subjected to 7 days of stroke. Our results show that neuroblasts originating in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of adult mouse brain laterally migrated in chains or individually to reach the ischemic striatum.

Chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) induces migration and differentiation of subventricular zone cells after stroke.

Ischemic stroke stimulates neurogenesis in the adult rodent brain. The molecules that mediate stroke-induced neurogenesis have not been fully investigated. Using a microarray containing 113 known genes associated with angiogenesis, we analyzed transcriptional profiles in subventricular zone (SVZ) tissue and in cultured neural progenitor cells isolated from the SVZ of adult mice subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo).

Neuroblast division during migration toward the ischemic striatum: a study of dynamic migratory and proliferative characteristics of neuroblasts from the subventricular zone.

Ischemic stroke induces neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ), and newly generated neurons in the SVZ migrate toward the ischemic boundary. However, the characteristics of migrating SVZ cells have not been investigated after stroke. Using time-lapse imaging in both SVZ cells and organotypic brain slice cultures, we measured the dynamics of SVZ cell division and migration of adult rats subjected to stroke.

Scalable encapsulation of hepatocytes by electrostatic spraying.

Encapsulating cells by polyelectrolyte complex coacervation can be accomplished at physiological temperature and buffer conditions. One of the oppositely charged polyelectrolytes in the microcapsule core can be collagen or any other natural extra-cellular matrices suitable for cellular support while the other polyelectrolyte forms the ultra-thin shell to ensure efficient mass transfer. These microcapsules with ultra-thin shell are difficult to produce in large quantities due to their fragility.

Optimization of 3-D hepatocyte culture by controlling the physical and chemical properties of the extra-cellular matrices.

Hepatocytes are anchorage-dependent cells sensitive to microenvironment; the control of the physicochemical properties of the extra-cellular matrices may be useful to the maintenance of hepatocyte functions in vitro for various applications. In a microcapsule-based 3-D hepatocyte culture microenvironment, we could control the physical properties of the collagen nano-fibres by fine-tuning the complex-coacervation reaction between methylated collagen and terpolymer of hydroxylethyl methacrylate-methyl methacrylate-methylacrylic acid. The physical properties of the nano-fibres were quantitatively characterized using back-scattering confocal microscopy to help optimize the physical support for hepatocyte functions.