EN
Focal brain damage following stroke leads to severe functional impairments. The aim of the study was to compare therapeutic effectiveness of intra-arterial infusion of HUCB-MNs at different stages of their neural conversion in vitro. Methods: Focal brain damage of dorsolateral striatum was induced in Wistar rats by stereotactic injection of previously established low dose of ouabain (1 μl, 5 mmol). Three days later 107 HUCB-MNs cells were infused (during 3 min) into carotid artery. Thirty days following surgery groups of 7ñ8 rats were housed in large enriched environment cages with various toys. Rats were behaviorally tested for 30 days after lesion. Results: Freshly isolated cells were much more effective in enhancing recovery from motor defi cits measured in walking beam task. Rats treated with HUCB-MNs cells presented also tendency to reduce turning bias and apomorphine induced rotations affected by unilateral lesion. This therapy enhances also recovery from impairments visible in object recognition task. However, rats treated with neurally directed HUCB-MNs also showed a signifi cant improvement in this task. The observed effects were much more prominent in T-maze habit learning task where cell treatment attenuated substantially lesion-induced learning defi cits. What interesting, the mechanism underlying this improvement seems to be different from this observed spontaneously in non-injured animals. Conclusions: Freshly isolated and neurally directed HUCB-MNs differently enhance recovery from distinct functional defi cits induced by focal brain damage. Non-cultured HUCB-MNs seems to be more effective in reducing motor defi cits. Neurally directed HUCB-MNs may be more potent in restoration of impaired habit learning processes. Supported by MSHE grant no 2PO5A05430