Evaluation of the hippocampal transplantation of mesenchymal cells from adipose tissue in epileptic seizures induced by maximum electroconvulsive shock in mice

• Grant number: 12/13037-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2012
• End date: August 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Beatriz de Oliveira Monteiro
• Grantee: Bruno de Pierri Tamura
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The use of mesenchymal stem cells is an innovative and accessible strategy for the treatment of central nervous system disorders due to their involvement in immunoregulatory mechanisms, trophic, proliferative, and anti-apoptotic action. The aim of this study is to evaluate the response to convulsive seizure induction in mice transplanted with mesenchymal cells from adipose tissue (MCAT) in the hippocampus. The MCAT from C57/B6 mice will be isolated from the supra-epididymal submitted to the process of culture and then transplanted to the hippocampus of adult male mice C57/B6 (n=12). The control group (n=12) will receive the same volume of DMEM culture medium in the same location. Thirty minutes after administration of MCAT or DMEM, ECM (65 mA, 60 Hz, duration 0:15 sec) will be applied to induce a generalized tonic-clonic seizure in animals from both groups. The parameters used to evaluate the anticonvulsant activity of the MCAT will be: protection against the tonic and/or clonic phases, reduction in the duration of each convulsive phase, and mortality rate. The brains of transplanted animals will be processed for identification and mapping of MCAT to elucidate, by histological analysis, whether these cells act as paracrine or locally (differentiation) and migrate to areas subjacent to the site of transplantation. Our hypothesis is that the MCAT transplanted in the hippocampus have neuroprotective effects on seizures induced by ECM, reducing the frequency and duration of seizures and reducing the mortality by the action of inhibitory factors on seizure spreading. This study should contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms of anticonvulsants MCAT, bringing strong therapeutic implications for the control of epileptic seizures.(AU)