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Updated: Mar 13, 2026
Intra-Arterial Delivery of Neural Stem Cells to the Rat and Mouse Brain: Application to Cerebral Ischemia
Published on: June 26, 2020
Effect of umbilical cord blood stem cells transplantation on bladder dysfunction induced by cerebral ischemia in rats
Ching-Chung Liang1, Tsong-Hai Lee2, Shuenn-Dhy Chang1
1Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Objective:
To demonstrate the effect of human umbilical cord blood-derived CD34+ cells on bladder dysfunction induced by cerebral ischemia in rats.
Materials And Methods:
Female rats were subjected to either 60 minute middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) or a sham operation. Rats were divided into four groups: sham operation, MCAO without treatment, infusion with 1×106 CD34+ cells 30 minutes before MCAO, and infusion with 1×106 CD34+ cells 3 hours after MCAO. Bladder function was analyzed by cystometry at 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days after MCAO. Expressions of nerve growth factor (NGF), M2 and M3 muscarinic receptors were measured by immunohistochemistry and real time polymerase chain reaction.
Results:
Cystometric results showed that, following MCAO, rats have a significant increase in peak voiding pressure and residual volume. Conversely, there is a significant decrease in voided volumes and intercontraction intervals. Cystometric variables after pre- and postischemic CD34+ treatment nearly returned to levels found in sham-operated rats. The expression of bladder NGF and M3 was decreased after MCAO, but significantly increased following preischemic CD34+ treatment. There was decreased expression of bladder M2 mRNA despite an increased level of M2 immunoreactivity at 3 days and 7 days after MCAO. Expression of bladder M2 immunoreactivity and mRNA nearly returned to sham group levels after preischemic CD34+ treatment.
Conclusion:
Bladder dysfunction in a rat model caused by MCAO may be restored to normal micturition by treatment with human umbilical cord blood-derived CD34+ cells and may be related to the expressions of NGF, M2, and M3 in the bladder.
