Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2016, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (4): 652-656.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.180753

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Human umbilical cord blood-derived stem cells and brain-derived neurotrophic factor protect injured optic nerve: viscoelasticity characterization

Xue-man Lv1, Yan Liu2, Fei Wu3, Yi Yuan1, *, Min Luo4   

  1. 1 Department of Ophthalmology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
    2 Department of Hand Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
    3 Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
    4 Department of Pain Management, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
  • Received:2015-08-07 Online:2016-04-30 Published:2016-04-30
  • Contact: Yi Yuan, M.D., yuany@jlu.edu.cn.
  • Supported by:

    This study was supported by a grant from High-Tech Research and Development Program of Jilin Province of China, No. 20110492.

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Abstract:

The optic nerve is a viscoelastic solid-like biomaterial. Its normal stress relaxation and creep properties enable the nerve to resist constant
strain and protect it from injury. We hypothesized that stress relaxation and creep properties of the optic nerve change after injury. Moreover,
human brain-derived neurotrophic factor or umbilical cord blood-derived stem cells may restore these changes to normal. To validate
this hypothesis, a rabbit model of optic nerve injury was established using a clamp approach. At 7 days after injury, the vitreous body received
a one-time injection of 50 μg human brain-derived neurotrophic factor or 1 × 106 human umbilical cord blood-derived stem cells.
At 30 days after injury, stress relaxation and creep properties of the optic nerve that received treatment had recovered greatly, with pathological
changes in the injured optic nerve also noticeably improved. These results suggest that human brain-derived neurotrophic factor or
umbilical cord blood-derived stem cell intervention promotes viscoelasticity recovery of injured optic nerves, and thereby contributes to
nerve recovery.

Key words: nerve regeneration, optic nerve injury, human umbilical cord blood-derived stem cells, brain-derived neurotrophic factors, creep, histomorphology, stress relaxation, viscoelasticity, neural regeneration