Effect of fetal cerebellum tissue transplantation on the spasticity and chronic pain syndrome after spinal cord injury in rats

Abstract

The syndromes of spasticity and chronic pain are diagnosed in the majority of patients in different periods of recovering from spinal injury. Current synthetic or semi-synthetic matrixes, tissue and cell transplants, which are used in the treatment of spinal cord injuries, can affect the development of the syndrome of spasticity and chronic pain.Objective. To examine the effect of fetal cerebellum tissue transplantation (FCTT) on the course of the spasticity and chronic pain syndrome after experimental spinal cord injury.Materials and methods. Animals – albino outbred male rats (5.5 months, 300 grams, inbred line, the original strain – Wistar); main experimental groups: 1 – spinal cord injury only (n = 16), 2 – spinal cord injury + immediate homotopical implantation of a fragment of the fetal cerebellum tissue (n = 15). Model of injury – left-side spinal cord hemisection at Т11 level; verification of spasticity – by Ashworth scale and electroneuromyography, severe pain syndrome – by autophagy.Results. FCTT does not affect the frequency of severe neuropathic pain syndrome, is accompanied by early (1st week) debut of spasticity signs, significantly increases the level of spasticity (1st-3rd weeks), which is most likely due to glutamatergic effect of descendants of immature transplant cells – cerebellar granular neurons precursors. The maximum increase of the spasticity in the case of FCTT was observed at the 3rd week, in the control group – within the 1st and 4th weeks; from the 4th week after FCTT till the end of the experiment stabilization of spasticity rate in the range of 1.8-2.1 points was observed, which is probably due to the autoimmune motoneurons loss in the perifocal area. At the 24th week the level of spasticity in the case of FCTT succumbed to 2.1 ± 0.3 points, in the control group – 2.6 ± 0.4 Ashworth’s points (p > 0.05).Conclusion. Immediate fetal cerebellum tissue transplantation in rats with spinal cord injury causes early pro-spastic effect, in the long term – stabilizes spasticity level.