Autotransplantation of superior cervical ganglion to the caudate nucleus in three patients with Parkinson's disease (preliminary report)

Abstract

Striatal cervical ganglionic implants have been utilized for the first time for treatment of three patients suffering from Parkinson's disease. Tissue grafts from the superior cervical ganglion have been dissected and immediately transplanted into the head of the caudate nucleus. The grafted tissue placed in a cavity of the caudate nucleus remains in contact with the cerebrospinal fluid in the lateral ventricle. Three and six months after surgery, none of the patients has had any major complications and their lower score of Unified Parkinsonism Rating Scale (UPRS) points was associated with an improvement of the signs of Parkinson's disease. Present data have provided some optimism that grafting of superior cervical ganglion is a feasible approach in Parkinson's disease.

The search for a curative cell therapy in Parkinson's disease

“…In these studies ganglion tissue has been excised from the sympathetic trunk either at the thoracic [30,31] or cervical [32][33][34] level and then transplanted into the striatum of patients. This autologous transplantation of sympathetic ganglion neurons has been associated with a reduction in the "off" time and an increase in the "on" time in approximately half of the PD patients receiving such transplants [34].…”

Cell replacement therapy for Parkinson's disease

“…Their action is thought to be mediated by their ability to convert and store dopamine found in the A C C E P T E D M A N U S C R I P T extracellular space. In clinical studies sympathetic ganglion tissue has been harvested from the cervical [24][25][26] or thoracic [22,23] sympathetic trunk and transplanted into the striatum of patients with PD. Approximately half the patients having such grafts experienced reduced 'off' time and increased 'on' time with an overall improvement in bradykinesia and gait in some, but no significant change in UPDRS scores.…”