Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2018, Vol. 13 ›› Issue (10): 1820-1826.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.238713

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Combined VEGF/PDGF improves olfactory regeneration after unilateral bulbectomy in mice

Kate Beecher1, 3, Louise M. Hafner1, 2, Jenny Ekberg3, 4, James A. St. John3, 4, Fatemeh Chehrehasa1, 2, 3   

  1. 1 School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Box 2434, QLD, Australia
    2 Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
    3 Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Rd, Nathan, Australia
    4 Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport 4222, QLD, Australia
  • Received:2018-07-11 Online:2018-10-15 Published:2018-10-15
  • Contact: Fatemeh Chehrehasa, PhD,fatemeh.chehrehasa@qut.edu.au.
  • Supported by:

    This work was supported by Queensland University of Technology Start Up Grant (to FC) and a grant from the Clem Jones Foundation (to JASJ).

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Abstract:

The olfactory receptor neurons lining the nasal cavity have a remarkable capacity to regenerate throughout life. They are replenished continuously and their axons make new connections within the olfactory bulb.However, some factors such as head trauma and skull base surgery damage the olfactory nerve which lead to olfactory dysfunction. Losing the sense of smell has considerable effects on quality of life and life-expectancy.Therefore, there is a clear need to find a treatment for olfactory dysfunction. One such potential treatment is growth factor therapy which showed promising results in the spinal cord and brain injuries. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether combined delivery of two growth factors, vascular endothelial growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor treatment can improve the olfactory neurons regeneration in mice. The degeneration of the olfactory neurons was induced by unilateral bulbectomy. The treatment group received 1.5 μg of the combined growth factors intranasally, while the control injured group received saline. Growth factor treatment significantly increased the number of immature neurons at 5 and 7 days post injury and also the number of mature olfactory neurons at 10 and 14 days post bulbectomy.Regenerating axons extended over a larger volume in the operated cavity in the treatment group compared to control group at 14 days post bulbectomy. The growth factor treatment also significantly reduced astrocytic glia scar in the operated cavity. The results indicate that the combined delivery of the growth factors has the potential to improve olfactory dysfunction.

Key words: astrocytes, olfactory bulb, glial scar, axon, growth factors, neuron