Migration after human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells transplantation in brain injury rats

Aim: To explore the migration and location of human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells (UCB-MSCs) after they were transplanted into adult brain tissue and to investigate the possibility of a new cell source for central nervous system transplantation.Methods:UCB-MSCs were derived from separated umbilical cord blood, then, cultured and labeled by Hoechst33258 and were stereotactically transplanted into adult rat striatum after experimental traumatic brain injury. After a period of time, the rats were sacrified and their brain tissue was sectioned to identify the transplanted cells under fluorescent microscope.Results: These cells lived well and showed good compatibility when they were grafted into adult brains. Three weeks after transplantation, the marked UCB-MSCs were giving out blue-white lights and the morphology was intact and cells were spreading along the two sides of needle canal. The nearer to canal,the denser to spread. At 6 weeks after transplantation, the distribution of cells near the canal was sparser than that of 3 weeks.Conclusion: UCB-MSCs could live and incorporate into host brains when they are transplanted into adult brain tissue.