Histological Study on the Effect of Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Versus their Conditioned Medium and Microvesicles on Experimentally Induced Acute Cerebral Ischemia in Albino Rats

Background and Objectives: Ischemic stroke (an acute cerebrovascular event) is major health problem. It is associated with high rates of mortality and long-term disabilities. The therapeutic options remain limited. This work aimed to evaluate and compare the possible protective effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs), their conditioned media (BM-MSCs-CM) and their derived microvesicles (BM-MSCs-MVs) on acute cerebral ischemia.Material and Methods: Fifty-two adult male albino rats were divided into five groups: Group I, Group II, Group III, Group IV and Group V. Acute cerebral ischemia was induced in all experimental groups via transient right common carotid artery (RCCA) occlusion. Brain specimens were processed for hematoxylin and eosin, immunohistochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The mean area percent for both GFAP and VEGF were measured and statically analyzed. Results: RCCA occlusion resulted in morphological alterations in cerebral cortex of Group II. Significant increase in mean area % of GFAP positive immunoreactivity and significant decrease in mean area % of VEGF positive immunoreactivity was detected in this group as compared to Group I. Instead, the treated groups revealed amelioration in these changes. Significant decrease in mean area % of GFAP positive immunoreactivity along with significant rise in mean area % of VEGF positive immunoreactivity were detected in group V compared to other treated groups.Conclusion: Administration of BM-MSCs-MVs recorded marked ameliorating effect in comparison to BM-MSCs and BM-MSCs-CM. Hence, it could be considered an ideal candidate as therapeutic agent in ischemic stroke.