Neuroscience 2004 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 933.10 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | The use of magnetic resonance imaging for <I>in vivo</I>, longitudinal tracking of transplanted embryonic neural stem cells after spinal cord injury. |
| Authors: |
Slotkin, J. R.*1
; Finn*, T. P.1
; Dai, H.1
; McAtee, M. M.1
; Ileva, L. V.1
; Fricke, S. T.1
; Bregman, B. S.1
1Dept. of Neurosci., Georgetown Univ., Washington, DC |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Development - Transplantation and Regeneration -- Transplantation |
| Secondary Theme and Topics | Motor Systems<br />- Spinal Cord<br />-- Imaging |
| Session: |
933. Transplantation Slide |
| Presentation Time: | Wednesday, October 27, 2004 3:15 PM-3:30 PM |
| Location: | San Diego Convention Center - Room 7B |
| Keywords: | Spinal Cord Injury, Neural Stem Cells, MRI, Imaging |
The ability to identify embryonic neural stem cells after therapeutic transplantation is crucial. In particular, there is a need for a non-invasive, longitudinal method of in vivo tracking of such cellular therapies. Embryonic neural stem cells derived from E14 rat spinal cord tissue were co-incubated with encapsulated microspheres (Bangs Laboratories). Each microsphere is 0.96 µm and consists of iron oxide crystals and a fluorescein analogue entrapped in a polymer matrix. Electron microscopy confirmed the intracytoplasmic location of these microspheres after co-culture. Fluorescence and light microscopy confirmed a highly efficient labeling process and the healthy appearance of cells. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at 7.0 Tesla using a Bruker Biospin system. In vitro MRI of labeled, cultured cells demonstrated the ability to resolve individual embryonic neural stem cells. In vivo studies used a spinal cord overhemisection lesion at C4. Labeled embryonic neural stem cells were transplanted into lesion cavities in both acute and delayed treatment paradigms. In vivo, longitudinal MRI demonstrated the ability to resolve aggregates of iron-labeled neural stem cells within lesion cavities between one day and four weeks. Subsequent fluorescence histopathology confirmed the continued presence of microspheres within embryonic neural stem cells. We have shown that embryonic neural stem cells derived from E14 embryonic spinal cord tissue can be efficiently labeled with fluorescent iron oxide microspheres. MRI can then be used to detect and track such cells in a longitudinal, in vivo fashion. Such technology may be uniquely applicable as a non-invasive outcome measure in future human cellular therapies.
*(These two authors contributed equally to this work).
*(These two authors contributed equally to this work).
Supported by NIH NS 27054, NICHD T32 HD 007459-10, and The Wadsworth Foundation
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2004 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2004. Online.
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