Targeted migration of stem cells in the model of brain trauma

Objective: to develop technique of stem cells migration to the brain along trunks of cranial nerves during brain injury modeling.
Methods: 40 anesthetized white rats were fixed in stereotaxis and subjected to craniotomy (20 rats at anterior cranial fossa (group 1) and 20 rats at posterior cranial fossa (group 2). 100 µl of brain tissue were bilaterally aspirated from somatosensory zone and cerebellar cortex in 1st and 2nd groups, respectively. Mesenchymal stem cells (labeled with PKH67 green fluorescent linker) were injected in 10 minutes: intranasally (10 animals) and to Meckel cavity (10 animals) in both groups. Animals were observed and sacrificed at certain periods of time after the operation during three weeks.
Results: Appearance of small groups of mesenchymal stem cells in cranial cavity was established in 30 minutes after the operation. The highest fluorescence was observed at the damaged zone from 14 till 21 day after labeled stem cells implantation. Mesenchymal stem cells were predominantly distributed at the damaged zone in anterior cranial fossa after intranasal injection, and injection of stem cells to Meckel cavity resulted in their pronounced accumulation in the zone of cerebellar cortex injury (posterior cranial fossa).
Conclusion: The fact of somatotopic arrangement of mesenchymal stem cells in cranial cavity according to application zone near cranial nerve endings was established. Intranasal injection of mesenchymal stem cells is followed by their distribution in damaged zone in anterior cranial fossa. Injection of mesenchymal stem cells to Meckel cavity leads to accumulation of labeled cells in damaged zone in posterior cranial fossa.