The Intrathecal Infusion of Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Healthy Rabbits is Safe and Devoid of Neurological or Clinical Complications

Abstract

Background: Cellular, molecular and transplantation studies using mouse and rat models of neurological diseases have revealed that Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) represent a reliable candidate for cellular therapies for neurological conditions, including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). However, evaluation of safety aspects associated with route and dose of cell infusion, pivotal issues in cell therapy, has not been tested in large animals.