Abstract: Objective By using human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hBMSC) transplantation to treat experimentally induced cerebral ischemia in Macaca fascicularis to examine the effects of hBMSC transplantation on the recovery of neurological function. Methods In 18 Macaca fasciculari, cerebral ischemia was induced by photochemical occlusion to generate the stoke model. The animals were randomly divided into high-dose, low-dose, and control groups. After 4 weeks, 250 μl of hBMSC at 5×106, 1×106 , or saline were injected respectively at the edge of the hematoma. High field MR scanning and positron-emission tomography (PET) scans were performed every 2 weeks before and after the hBMSC transplant. Neurological functioning and upper limb motor test were used to evaluate on 24hrs,3d,and 1, 2, 3, 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,12weeks after the surgery. Results After hBMSC transplantation, neural function scores and upper limb motor test improved significantly in the high-and low-dose groups compared with the control group. 4and 6 weeks after the transplantation, SUV% of the surrounding area of the lesion had significant different between dose group and control group(P<0.05). At week 4 and 12, pathological examination showed a large amount of angiogenesis around the lesion. The area of the lesion of low-dose group decreased significant compared to the control group (P <0.05). Conclusions- Intracerebral transplantation of human mesenchymal stem cells can improve functional recovery of Macaca fascicularis and can be used to restore neurological deficits in experimentally induced ischemia stroke.

Key words: mesenchymal stem cells, cerebral ischemia, transplantation, Macaca fascicularis