Therapeutic Potential of Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells on Brain Damage of a Model of Stroke

Introduction: Human cord blood-derived stem cells are a rich source of stem cells as well as precursors. With regard to the researchers have focused on the therapeutic potential of stem cell in the neurological disease such as stroke, the aim of this study was the investigation of the therapeutic effects of human cord blood-derived stem cells in cerebral ischemia on rat. Methods: This study was carried out on young rats. Firstly, to create a laboratory model of ischemic stroke, carotid artery of animals was occluded for 30 minutes. Then, umbilical cord blood cells were isolated and labeled using bromodeoxyuridine and 2×10^5 cells were injected into the experimental group via the tail vein. Rats with hypoxic conditions were used as a sham group. A group of animals did not receive any injection or surgeries were used as a control. Results: Obtained results were evaluated based on behavioral responses and immunohistochemistry, with emphasis on areas of putamen and caudate nucleus in the control, sham and experimental groups. Our results indicated that behavioral recovery was observed in the experimental group compared to the either the sham or the control group. However, histological studies demonstrated a low percent of tissue injury in the experimental group in comparison with the sham group. Conclusions: Stem cell trans-plantation is beneficial for the brain tissue reparation after hypoxic ischemic cell death.