Beneficial effect of pharmacological mobilization of bone marrow in experimental cerebral ischemia

Bone marrow stem cells are able to differentiate into nervous and endothelial cells. In our study, we found that administration of a bone marrow-stimulating factor (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor; G-CSF 50 mug/kg) decrease the brain infarct volume and enhance survival rate in a model of cerebral ischemia. Taken together, these data suggest a beneficial effect of a pharmacological endogenous bone marrow mobilization in the course of cerebral ischemia and open a new direction for cellular therapy strategy in stroke. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.