BONE MARROW STEM CELLS in FACIAL NERVE REGENERATION FROM ISOLATED STUMPS

IntroductionSevere lesions in the facial nerve may have extensive axonal loss and leave isolated stumps that impose technical difficulties for nerve grafting. Methods: We evaluated bone marrow stem cells (BMSC) in a silicone conduit for rat facial nerve regeneration from isolated stumps. Group A utilized empty silicone tubes; in groups B-D, the tube was filled with acellular gel; and, in groups C and D, undifferentiated BMSC (uBMSC) or Schwann-like cells differentiated from BMSC (dBMSC) were added, respectively. Compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) were measured, and histology was evaluated. Results: Groups C and D had the highest CMAP amplitudes. Group C had shorter CMAP durations than groups A, B, and D. Distal axonal number and density were increased in group C compared with groups A and B. Conclusions: Regeneration of the facial nerve was improved by both uBMSC and dBMSC in rats, yet uBMSC was associated with superior functional results.INCT Program Project of the National Council for Scientific and Technological DevelopmentConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Univ São Paulo, Dept Otorhinolaryngol, Sch Med, BR-05403000 São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Dept Genet & Evolutionary Biol, Biosci Inst, BR-05403000 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biochem, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Dept Cell & Dev Biol, Inst Biomed Sci, BR-05403000 São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Viral Vector Lab, Mol Cardiol Lab LIM 13, Heart Inst,Med Sch, BR-05403000 São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Biochemistry, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilCNPq: 573633/2008-8FAPESP: CEPID 1998/14254-2FAPESP: 2008/53857-8FAPESP: 2008/00458-9Web of Scienc