Effect of neural stem cells transplantation on differentiation and function of Alzheimer's disease rat hippocampus

Aim:To observe the survival and differentiation of neural stem cells(NSCs) from rat hippocampus after intrahippocampus transplantation of Alzheimer's disease(AD) rat.Methods:A total of 40 SD rats were randomly divided into control group,AD group,and 2,4,6 weeks transplantation groups,8 in each group.NSCs were isolated from the dentate gyrus of hippocampus of newborn rats,and labeled with Hoechst 33258.Rats of tranplantation groups were prepared to be AD model,and 7 d later,were grafted with NSCs into the hippocampus.2,4 or 6 weeks post transplantation,the behavioral testing were performed using Y-maze trial,and NF-200 and GFAP in cells labeled with Hoechst33258 detected using immunofluorescence and synaptophysin were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results:2 weeks after transplantation,GFAP and NF-200 were not detected.4,6 weeks after transplantation,approximately 1% cells labeled with Hoechst33258 expressed GFAP,while 10% expressed NF-200.There were significant differences in Synaptophysin expression among the 5 groups(F=47.52,P0.05),the synaptophysin expression in AD group was significantly lower than that of the control,while those of 2,4,6 week transplantation groups were significantly higher than those of control and AD groups(P0.05).There were significant differences in learning and memory capacity among the 5 groups(F=63.52,24.36,P0.05).Compared with control group,the ability of learning and memory in AD group decreased remarkably(P0.05),while comparing with AD group,those of 2,4,6 week transplantation groups enhanced obviously(P0.05).Conclusion:NSCs grafted in the brain may differentiate into neurons and astrocytes,promote the synapse to rebuild and improve learning and memory ability.