Comparative study between bone marrow mononuclear fraction and mesenchymal stem cells treatment in sensorimotor recovery after focal cortical ablation in rats

Background: Different models of cortical lesion lead to different effects on plasticity of connections and loss of function. In opposition to ischemia, cortical lesion made by ablation does not induce significant adaptive plasticity of corticocortical and corticostriatal projections and leads to functional alterations other than those observed after ischemia. We have demonstrated sensorimotor recovery after treatment with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) in a model of focal cortical ischemia. Here, we extended this analysis evaluating the effect of these cells on sensorimotor recovery after focal cortical ablation, reproducing the same size and location of previous ischemic lesion. Findings: Focal cerebral aspiration of the six cortical layers in left frontoparietal cortex was performed in male Wistar rats. One day later, MSCs or BMMCs were administrated (i.v.) in the ablated animals. Vehicle was administrated in the control group. Sensorimotor tests were performed before and after injury followed by i.v. injection. The monitoring of functional recovery was performed weekly during three post-ablation months. The results showed significant sensorimotor recovery with both treatments, whereas control groups had no recovery. Moreover, both cell types induced the same level of recovery. Conclusions: Bone marrow cells showed therapeutic efficacy in a model of brain injury known to promote low structural plasticity. Thus, the results support the idea of BMMCs as better candidates to treat acute CNS injuries than MSCs, since they have the same therapeutic potential, but its obtainment for autologous transplantation has been shown to be faster and easier.