Neurotrophic Effect of Bone Proliferation and Committed Mesencephalic Precursors Marrow Stromal Cells on Differentiation of Ventral

OBJECTIVE To explore the potential neurotrophic effect of bone marrow stromal cells （BMSCs） on cell proliferation and committed neuronal differentiation of ventral mesencephalic precursors （VMPs） in vitro. METHODS Ventral mesencephalic precursors from Ell inbred rat embryos and BMSCs from adult rats were cultured both separately and in co-culture. After a 7-day incubation in vitro, three conditioned culture media were obtained, termed VMP or common medium, BMSC medium, and BMSC±VMP medium. Ventral mesen- cephalic precursors cells were cultured in each of these media and the effects on proliferation and VMP differentiation were assessed. The relative yield of TH± cells was calculated and compared by immunocytochemical staining. RESULTS After a 7-day culture and induction of VMPs, the total cell counts were increased by （44.13±4.75）-fold （common）, （60.63±5.25）-fold （BMSC）, and （64.00±7.63）-fold （BMSC±VMP）. The proportions of TH＋ cells were （18.76±5.20）%, （23.49±4.10）%, and （28.08± 5.42）%, respectively, with statistically significant differences among the treatment groups. CONCLUSION BMSCs release factors that promote the proliferation of VMPs and facilitate the committed differentiation of VMPs into dopaminergic neurons.

Functional connectivity changes during migraine treatment with electroacupuncture at Shuaigu(GB8)

Objective:To investigate the changes in the functional connectivity(FC)in the right insula between migraine without aura(MWoA)and healthy controls by using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI),and to observe the instant alteration of FC in MWoA during electroacupuncture(EA)stimulation at Shuaigu(GB8).Methods:A total of 30 patients with MWoA(PM group)and 30 healthy controls(HC group)underwent rs-fMRI scans.The PM group underwent a second rs-fMRI scan while receiving EA at GB8.The right insula subregions,including the ventral anterior insula(vAI),dorsal anterior insula(dAI)and posterior insula(PI),were selected as the seed points for FC analysis.Results:Aberrant FC,including dAI with right postcentral gyrus,PI with left precuneus,was found among PM before EA(PMa),PM during EA(PMb)and HC.Meanwhile,decreased FC between dAI and the right postcentral gyrus was found in the PMa compared to the HC and PMb.Increased FC between the PI and left precuneus was found in the PMa compared to the HC and PMb.Correlation analysis showed that the FC value of the right postcentral gyrus in PMa was negatively correlated with the scores of Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety.The FC value of the left precuneus in PMa was positively correlated with the visual analogue scale score.Conclusion:The alteration of FC between the right insula subregions and multiple brain regions may be an important index for MWoA.EA at GB8 was able to adjust the FC between the right insula subregions and parietal lobe,namely,the right dAI and right postcentral gyrus,and the right PI and left precuneus,thereby rendering an instant effect in the management of MWoA.