Neurotrophic and migratory properties of an olfactory ensheathing cell line

Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are a unique type of macroglia required for normal olfactory axonal regeneration throughout the lifetime of an indi vidual. Recent evidence in the literature suggests that OECs transplanted i nto injured spinal cords may facilitate axonal regeneration. In this study, we evaluated the neurotrophic properties of OECs using a homogeneous clona l cell line (nOEC), which does not contain contaminating cell types found i n all primary OEC cultures. The results indicate that nOECs express mRNA fo r NGF, BDNF, NT-4/5, and neuregulins, but not for NT-3 or CNTF. In addition , nOECs secrete NGF, BDNF, and neuregulin, but retain NT-4/5 intracellularl y. Finally, prelabeled nOECs derived from rat survived transplantation into a dorsal hemisected region of the hamster spinal cord and migrated only in the injured, dorsal portion of the spinal cord. This migratory pattern sug gests that the nOECs are viable in vivo and respond to signals originating from the injured neuronal cells and their processes. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, I nc.