Treatment efficacy with bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells and minocycline in rats after cerebral ischemic injury.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effects of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), minocycline, and these two therapies combined on functional and histological improvement in cerebral ischemic injury created rats.
Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight Sprague Dawley female rats, weighing 250-300 g, were included in the study. Two male rats with similar properties were sacrificed for bone marrow derived MSC production. Group 1 was established as the control group. Group 2 was the group of only minocycline administered rats. Group 3 was the one of only MSCs administered rats. Group 4 was composed of the rats given the combination of MSCs and minocycline. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was done to assess the degeneration of the cells. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to evaluate the regeneration. Motor functions were examined by using Bederson's score.
Results: Cell degeneration was the least in group 4. The cells stained with GFAP were observed mostly in group 4. The cells stained with Neu N in group 1 were statistically lower than in other groups. When the groups were ordered in terms of functional improvement at the end of the second week, group 4 had the most and group 1 had the least.
Conclusions: Bone marrow derived MSCs can lead to more histological and functional improvement when administered with minocycline, which is a neuroprotective agent as early as 24 h following the ischemic injury in a rat model. Minocycline therapy alone can be as effective as bone marrow derived MSCs therapy alone in ischemic cerebral rat model.