Journal article
Transplanting Neural Progenitor Cells Improves Neural Regulation But Not Hormonal Reliance of Cardiovascular Function Following Spinal Cord Injury
eNeuro, v 12(9), ENEURO.0030-25.2025
01 Sep 2025
PMID: 40841167
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
High-level spinal cord injury (SCI) often reduces neural regulation of cardiovascular function. During the chronic phase, humoral regulation via the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is enhanced to compensatorily maintaining blood pressure. It was recently shown that transplanting early-stage neurons into the injured cord mitigates cardiovascular disorders. However, the mechanisms underlying this recovery remain largely unknown. Here, we employed various pharmacological interventions to elucidate whether this strategic transplantation affects the imbalance of neuroendocrine regulation of hemodynamics and the role of specific serotonergic and catecholaminergic components. Female rats received a complete crush at the fourth thoracic spinal cord. Embryonic neural progenitor cells (NPCs) harvested from the raphe nuclei or the spinal cord were transplanted into the lesion. Naive rats or injury alone served as controls. After 8-9 weeks, radio-telemetric recordings demonstrated that both implants decreased tachycardia at rest and diminished the frequency or severity of autonomic dysreflexia (AD). Pharmacological interventions demonstrated that both NPC grafts partially restored neural regulation of blood pressure without normalizing the aberrant RAS hyperactivity. Subsequently, specific neural mechanisms were explored through intrathecal administration of the 5-HT
antagonist ketanserin, the 5-HT
antagonist WAY100635, or the α1-adrenoreceptor antagonist prazosin. It revealed that graft-derived serotonergic signaling was involved in the restoration of the resting heart rate via 5-HT
receptors but did not attenuate AD. In addition, catecholaminergic mechanisms remained critical for blood pressure maintenance after SCI. Ultimately, the results provide insight into understanding the mechanistic nuances associated with cell therapy for SCI-induced cardiovascular dysfunction.
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Details
- Title
- Transplanting Neural Progenitor Cells Improves Neural Regulation But Not Hormonal Reliance of Cardiovascular Function Following Spinal Cord Injury
- Creators
- Cameron T Trueblood - Drexel UniversityFateme Khodadadi-Mericle - University of MissouriZhifeng Qi - University of MissouriSilvia Fernandes - Drexel UniversityTheresa Connors - Drexel UniversityMicaela L O'Reilly - Drexel UniversityJohn D Houle - Drexel UniversityVeronica J Tom - Drexel UniversityShaoping Hou - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- eNeuro, v 12(9), ENEURO.0030-25.2025
- Publisher
- Society for Neuroscience
- Grant note
- R01 NS121336 / NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS106908 / NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS099076 / NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS122371 / NINDS NIH HHS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Neurobiology and Anatomy
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001587805200002
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105015230324
- Other Identifier
- 991022197407204721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Neurosciences