Mouse Xenograft Model of Corticospinal Tract by Delayed Transplantation of Olfactory Ensheating Cells

Adult rats were trained to use their forepaw for retrieving a piece of noodle through a slit in the front of the cage. The dorsal corticospinal tract was lesioned by a focal stereotactic radio-frequency lesion at the level of the first/second cervical segment. Complete destruction of one side of the corticospinal tract completely prevented the use of the ipsilateral forepaw reaching for at least 6 months after operation. Rats which have shown no forepaw retrieval by 8 weeks were xenotransplanted with a suspension of cultured olfactory ensheathing cells derived from the mouse olfactory bulb, into the lesion site. Starting between 1 and 3 weeks, 10 rats with transplants bridging the lesion site resumed ipsilateral forepaw reaching. The histology of the lesioned rats with misplaced olfactory ensheathing cell showed no functional recovery during the 8 weeks of training.