Objective To investigate the effect of olfactory ensheathing cell culture medium (OECCM) on the growth of spinal cord neurons and its protective effect on the injured neurons by H2O2, and to disscuss the probable protective mechanisms of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs). Methods The primary olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) were isolated from olfactory bulb of adult SD rat, and OECCM were prepared. The morphology of OECs was observed by inverted phase contrast microscope, identified by rabbit-antiratlow-affinity nerve growth factor p75 (NGFRp75), and its purity were calculated.
Primary spinal cord neurons were cultured from 15 to 17 days pregnant SD rats, and injury model of neurons were prepared by H2O2. OECCM and control culture medium were added into the normal spinal neurons (groups A, B). OECCM and control culture medium were added into the injured spinal neurons by H2O2 (groups C, D). In groups A and C, 200 μL of control culture medium was used; in groups B and D, 100 μL of control culture medium and 100 μL of OECCM were used. Then the growth index such as average diameter of neuron body, the number and length of neuron axons were measured. The viabil ities of normal and injured neurons were assessed by MTT. Results OECs showed bipolar or tripolar after 6-9 days of culture. Primary spinal cord neurons were round and bigger, and neuron axons grew significantly and showed bipolar after 5-7 days of culture. The immunocytochemisty of OECs by NGFRp75 showed that membrane were stained. The degree of purity was more than 90%. Primary spinal cord neurons grew well after 6-9 days of culture, and compared with group A, neurons of group B grew b, whose cell density and diameter were bigger. The average diameter of neuron body, the number and length of neuron axons were (33.38 ± 6.80) D/μm, (1.67 ± 0.80), and (91.19 ± 62.64) L/μm in group A, and (37.39 ± 7.28) D/μm, (1.76 ± 0.82), and (121.33 ± 81.13) L/μm in group B; showing statistically significant differences (P  lt; 0.05). The absorbency (A) value of neurons was 0.402 0 ± 0.586 9 in group A and 0.466 0 ± 0.479 0 in group B; showing statistically significant difference (P  lt; 0.01). After 2 hours of injury by H2O2, the cell density of spinal cord neurons decreased, and neuron axons shortened. The A value of injured neurons was 0.149 0 ± 0.030 0 in group C and 0.184 0 ± 0.052 0 in group D, showing statistically significant difference (P  lt; 0.01). Conclusion The results above suggest that OECCM could improve the growth of spinal cord neurons and protect
the injured neurons. The neurotrophic factors that OECs secrete play an important role in the treatment of spinal cord injury.

Citation： JI Zhenwei,QIAN Jixian,HAN Jianwei,FAN Qingyu.. EFFECT OF OLFACTORY ENSHEATHING CELLS ON GROWTH OF SPINAL CORD NEURONS AND ITSPROTECTIVE EFFECT ON NEURONS AFTER INJURY IN VITRO. Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery, 2009, 23(1): 21-25. doi: Copy