Regeneration of central nervous tissue using a collagen scaffold and adipose-derived stromal cells

Adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) include stem cells, which have the potential to differentiate into a variety of cell lineages. The regeneration of central nerves was examined using ASCs and a collagen scaffold. A cerebral cortex defect (3 x 4 x 3 mm(3)) was created in the left frontal lobe of 16 male rats. In one group (n = 8), collagen (3 x 4 x 3 mm(3)) seeded with DiI-labeled ASCs was implanted in the defect. In order to seed the ASCs, a combination of the rotary cell culture system and pressing the collagen scaffold gently several times with a glass rod was applied. In the control group (n = 8), collagen was implanted without ASCs. The rats were sacrificed at 1 month after the scaffold implantation. Histologically, 0.2% of the implanted ASCs were positive for anti-human/rat microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) antibody and microvessels were present at a density of 4.6 +/- 1.2/mm(2) within the collagen scaffold-implanted area in each coronal section. In the control group, no MAP2-positive cells were detected and the microvessel density was 0.6 +/- 0.4/mm(2). These data suggest that ASCs seeded into a collagen scaffold may have the potential to promote regeneration of nervous tissue after cerebral cortex injury.