Therapeutic Potential of Hair Follicle-Derived Stem Cell Intranasal Transplantation in a Rat Model of Ischemic Stroke
July 2022
in “
BMC neuroscience
”
TLDR Transplanted hair follicle stem cells improved brain function and reduced damage after a stroke in rats.
The study investigated the therapeutic potential of hair follicle-derived stem cells (HFSCs) in treating ischemic stroke in rats. The researchers used 72 male rats, divided into control, placebo, and treatment groups. The HFSCs were obtained from adult rat hair follicles and administered intranasally either immediately after inducing stroke or 24 hours later. The results showed that rats treated with HFSCs had improved neurological performance and a reduced area of dead tissue due to lack of blood supply. The study also found changes in the expression of several trophic factors and a mature neuron marker in the brain following stroke and stem cell therapy. These findings suggest that HFSCs could potentially be a safe and effective treatment for ischemic stroke.