The effect of ultrasound for increasing neural differentiation in hBM-MSCs and inducing neurogenesis in ischemic stroke model.

AIMS: This study's purpose was to evaluate the effect of ultrasound in air at a frequency of 0.04MHz and an intensity of 50mW/cm2 on neural differentiation of hBM-MSCs in vitro and on neurogenesis in an ischemic stroke model.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

hBM-MSCs were exposed to 0.04MHz ultrasound and then compared with no exposed one in cell morphology, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, RT-PCR, and Western blot. In addition, we made stroke model mice by means of the photothrombosis (PT) method and these models were exposed to 0.04MHz ultrasound after hBM-MSCs injection. We compared with sham group in histological and immunohistochemical analysis and western blot.

KEY FINDINGS: Ultrasound induced neural differentiation without cell death. In stroke models, inflammatory cells were observed around the infarct area in the Cell, Cell/Ultrasound group and the brain infarct volume in the Cell/Ultrasound group was smaller than in the sham group. Further, the expression of neural proteins in the Cell/Ultrasound group was increased relative to the sham group.

SIGNIFICANCE: The present study showed that ultrasound promotes neural differentiation of hBM-MSC and neurogenesis in a mouse stroke model. This may be applicable as a therapeutic device with the aim of inducing neurogenesis following stroke.