The pro-regenerative effects of dental pulp stem cells on the injured CNS AND Establishing a rat model of proliferative vitreoretinopathy to evaluate Decorin as a potential treatment

Mead, Ben (2012). The pro-regenerative effects of dental pulp stem cells on the injured CNS AND Establishing a rat model of proliferative vitreoretinopathy to evaluate Decorin as a potential treatment. University of Birmingham. M.Res.

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Abstract

Injury to the central nervous system (CNS) leaves patients with irreversible loss of critical functions such as vision and movement due to the limited regenerative capabilities of CNS axons. Stem cells offer two potential means of treating CNS injury, either differentiating into, and replacing lost neurons, or indirectly promoting the regeneration of endogenous injured neurons.

The aim of the present study was to determine the potential benefit dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) could provide in CNS injury. Rat DPSCs were subjected to a three week differentiation medium to induce neuronal differentiation. DPSCs were also tested for their potential pro-regenerative capabilities in an in vitro (primary retinal ganglion cell (RGC) culture) and in vivo (optic nerve crush) CNS injury model.

DPSCs failed to differentiate into neurons following the three week inductive medium protocol. DPSCs, when cultured with primary RGCs, significantly increased the number of regenerating RGC neurites. When transplanted into the vitreous, DPSCs significantly increased both survival of RGCs and regeneration of RGC axons following optic nerve crush.

This study although unable to successfully differentiate rat DPSCs into neurons, reveals the potential of DPSCs as a candidate cellular therapy in treating CNS injury.

Type of Work:	Thesis (Masters by Research > M.Res.)
Award Type:	Masters by Research > M.Res.
Supervisor(s):	Supervisor(s) Email ORCID Scheven, Ben UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Leadbeater, Wendy UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Scott, Robert UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Logan, Ann UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Blanch, Richard UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
Licence:
College/Faculty:	Colleges (2008 onwards) > College of Medical & Dental Sciences
School or Department:	School of Clinical and Experiment Medicine, Department of Medicine and Medical Education
Funders:	None/not applicable
Subjects:	Q Science > QM Human anatomy R Medicine > R Medicine (General) R Medicine > RK Dentistry
URI:	http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/3697

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