Bridges of biomaterials promote nigrostriatal pathway regeneration
[EN] Repair of central nervous system (CNS) lesions is difficulted by the lack of ability of central axons to regrow, and the blocking by the brain astrocytes to axonal entry. We hypothesized that by using bridges made of porous biomaterial and permissive olfactory ensheathing glia (OEG), we could provide a scaffold to permit restoration of white matter tracts. We implanted porous polycaprolactone (PCL) bridges between the substantia nigra and the striatum in rats, both with and without OEG. We compared the number of tyrosine-hydroxylase positive (TH+) fibers crossing the striatal-graft interface, and the astrocytic and microglial reaction around the grafts, between animals grafted with and without OEG. Although TH+ fibers were found inside the grafts made of PCL alone, there was a greater fiber density inside the graft and at the striatal-graft interface when OEG was cografted. Also, there was less astrocytic and microglial reaction in those animals. These results show that these PCL grafts are able to promote axonal growth along the nigrostriatal pathway, and that cografting of OEG markedly enhances axonal entry inside the grafts, growth within them, and re-entry of axons into the CNS. These results may have implications in the treatment of diseases such as Parkinson's and others associated with lesions of central white matter tracts. ; Contract grant sponsor: Regional Government Health Department (Conselleria de Sanitat, Generalitat Valenciana) and Carlos III Health Institute of the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs (Spain) (Regenerative Medicine Programme) Contract grant sponsor: Spanish ministry of Education and Science; contract grant number: MAT 2006-13554-C02-02 Contract grant sponsor: Red de Terapia Celular TERCEL (RETICS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (ISCIII); contract grant number: RD12/0019/0010 (to J.A.) Contract grant sponsor: Spanish Science & Innovation Ministery; contract grant number: MAT2008-06434 (to M.M.P.) Contract grant sponsor: "Convenio de ...