Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 13, 2026
Neural Stem Cell Transplantation in Experimental Contusive Model of Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: December 17, 2014
Trans-amniotic stem cell therapy (TRASCET) minimizes Chiari-II malformation in experimental spina bifida
Beatrice Dionigi1, Joseph A Brazzo1, Azra Ahmed1
1Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Purpose:
We sought to study the impact of trans-amniotic stem cell therapy (TRASCET) in the Chiari-II malformation in experimental spina bifida.
Methods:
Sprague-Dawley fetuses (n=62) exposed to retinoic acid were divided into three groups at term (21-22 days gestation): untreated isolated spina bifida (n=21), isolated spina bifida treated with intra-amniotic injection of concentrated, syngeneic, labeled amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells (afMSCs) on gestational day 17 (n=28), and normal controls (n=13). Analyses included measurements of brainstem and cerebellar placement on high resolution MRI and histology. Statistical comparisons included ANOVA.
Results:
In parallel to the expected induced coverage of the spina bifida in the afMSC-treated group (P<0.001), there were statistically significant differences in brainstem displacement across the groups (P<0.001), with the highest caudal displacement in the untreated group. Significant differences in cerebellar displacement were also noted, albeit less pronounced. Pairwise comparisons were statistically significant, with P=0.014 between treated and normal controls in caudal brainstem displacement and P<0.001 for all other comparisons. Labeled afMSCs were identified in 71% of treated fetuses.
Conclusions:
Induced coverage of spina bifida by TRASCET minimizes the Chiari-II malformation in the retinoic acid rodent model, further suggesting it as a practical alternative for the prenatal management of spina bifida.
