Effect of Sertoli Cell Transplant and Rapamycin Pretreatment on Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion-Induced Brain Ischemia in a Rat Model.

Objectives Stroke exacts a heavy toll on death and disability worldwide. In animal studies, cell transplant has shown a positive effect by inducing neurogenesis, angiogenesis, and modulating inflammation. Cell transplant therapy could provide researchers with new strategies for treating stroke. The mechanistic target of rapamycin is a central signaling pathway for coordination and control; the administration of rapamycin, a key modulator of this pathway, could be a new therapeutic approach in neurological disorders. Materials and methods Adult rats were grouped into 5 main groups: control, sham, rapamycin receiving, Sertoli cell receiving, and rapamycin plus Sertoli cell receiving groups. Sertoli cells were taken from another rat tissue and injected into the right striatum region. After 5 days, ischemic induction was performed, and rapamycin injection (300 mg/kg) was performed 1 hour before surgery. After 24 hours, some regions of the brain, including the cortex, striatum, and piriform cortex-amygdala, were isolated for evaluation. Results Our results showed that infarct volume, brain edema, and blood-brain barrier permeability assessments were significantly reduced in some areas of the brain in rats that received rapamycin plus Sertoli cells compared with results shown in the control group. Conclusions Pretreatment with Sertoli cell transplant plus rapamycin injection may enhance neural survival during ischemia through increased glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor and vascular endothelial growth factor, inhibiting the mechanistic target of rapamycin pathway and increasing autophagy performance.