Effects of tissue neurotransplantation on sceletal muscle tone restoration after experimental mechanical injury of the cerebellum

Abstract

This work aimed to conduct a comparative study of the restorative effects of transplantation of fetal neural tissue (FNT), olfactory bulb tissue (OBT) and fetal kidney (FK) on the dynamics of muscle hypotonia after cerebellar hemisphere injury in the adult rats. Beam walking test (BWT) allowed detect at least three degrees of hypotonia which correspond to 2, 3, and 4 points. The authors selected animals with function index (FI) by BWT scale strictly lesser than 4 points on the 3rd day after injury. Moderate hypotonia was associated with FI 3 points, severe – 2 points, and mild-4 points. Major differences in the dynamics of the restorative process across study groups were detected at the first month of study: slow recovery of statics and coordination (control); fast recovery (during first 9 days, FK, OBT and FNT groups) that underwent changes by its slow increase during 9th–33rd day. Mild hypotonia in the control group showed itself by the end of the 1st month and on the 9th day in the FK, OBT and FNT groups. Normotony was observed on the 21st (group FNT) and 30th day (groups FK and OBT). These data suggest that neurotransplantation has a significant effect on muscle tone improvement after cerebellar injury, depending on the type of graft.