Study of differentiated human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells transplantation on rat model of advanced parkinsonism

The aim of this study was to explore the curative effect of differentiated human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) transplantation on rat of advanced Parkinson disease (PD) model. Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells were cultured and induced differentiation in vitro. The PD rats were established and allocated randomly into 2 groups: differentiated hUC-MSCs groups and physiological saline groups (the control group). Rotation test and immunofluorescence double staining were done. The result showed that hUC-MSCs could differentiate into mature dopamine neurons. Frequency of rotation was significantly less in differentiated hUC-MSCs groups than in normal saline group. After we transplanted these cells into the unilateral lesioned substantia nigra induced by striatal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine and performed in the medial forebrain bundle and ventral tegmental area, nigral tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells were observed and survival of at least 2 months. In addition, transplantation of hUC-MSCs could make an obviously therapeutic effect on PD rats.