Electrical stimulation and stem cells for spinal injury in dogs

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The application of low-intensity electrical stimulation (LIES) to neural tissue increases neurochemical factors responsible for regeneration as nerve growth factor. Stem cell (SC) therapy for patients with Spinal cord injury (SCI) promote some increase functional improvement. OBJECTIVE: Investigate the electromyographic response in paraplegic dogs undergoing LIES and SC transplantation. METHODS: 27 dogs paraplegics with SCI were divided into three groups with different types of therapy. G: two SC transplants (n = 9); G: LIES (n = 8); G: two SC transplants and LIES (n = 10). Adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) were transplanted by lumbar puncture in the amount of 1.2 × 10cells/50 μL. Acupuncture needles positioned in the interspinous space were used for stimulation. The electrical stimulation was applied with a mean voltage ∼30 mV and four consecutive modulated frequencies (5 Hz, 10 Hz, 15 Hz and 20 Hz) within 5 min each. The patients motor performance was evaluated before (Pre) the procedure and after 30 (Post) and 60 (Post) days, from electromyography root mean square (EMG) registered with subcutaneous electrodes in the vastus lateralis muscle, while the animals were in quadrupedal position. RESULTS: All three groups showed a significant intra-group increase of EMG(Pre vs. Postor Pre vs. Post). However, there were no statistically significant differences between Postand Post. The inter-group test (GX GX G) did not present significance when compared the instants Pre (p = 0.34), Post(p = 0.78) and Post(p = 0.64). CONCLUSION: Some dogs recovered motor activity, expressed by the EMGin all groups, in pre vs. post (30 or 60 days) comparisons.