Objective: To investigate the memory amelioration of the Alzheimer disease (AD) model rat after being transplanted the single neural stem cells (NSC) and NSC modified with human brain-derived neurotrophic factor (hBDNF) gene.
Methods: Forty SD rats were divided evenly into 4 groups randomly. The AD model rats were made by cutting unilaterally the fibria-fornix of male rats. Ten to twelve days after surgery, the genetically modified and unmodified NSC were implanted into the lateral cerebral ventricle of group III and group IV respectively. Two weeks after transplantation, the amelioration of memory impairment of the rats was detected by Morris water maze.
Results: The average escaping latency of the group III and group IV (41.84 +/- 21.76 s, 25.23 +/- 17.06 s respectively) was shorter than that of the group II (70.91 +/- 23.67 s) (P<0.01). The percentage of swimming distance in the platform quadrant in group III (36.9%) and in group IV (42.0%) was higher than that in the group II (26.0%) (P<0.01). More marginal and random strategies were used in group II. The percentage of swimming distance in the platform quadrant in group IV was also greater than that in group III (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the average escaping latency, the percentage of swimming distance in the platform quadrant and the probe strategy between group IV and group I (P>0.05). More lineal and oriented strategies were used in group IV.
Conclusion: The behavioral amelioration of AD model rat was obtained by transplanting single NSC and hBDNF-gene-modified NSC. The effect of the NSC group modified with hBDNF gene is better than that of the group III.