Adult mesenchymal stem cells rescue dorsal root ganglia neurons from dying

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into multiple cellular lineages including neuronal cells. However, the positive effect of MSCs on repairing the nervous tissue has not yet been completely understood. In order to investigate the influence of MSCs on a neuronal population, we co-cultured MSCs, obtained by flushing the bone diaphisis from adult Sprague–Dawley rats, with DRG post-mitotic sensory neurons obtained from rat embryos at day E15. Co-cultures were maintained for 2 months. The adult rat MSCs, simply harvested in a pure culture of DRG neurons, allow the long-lasting survival and maturation of neurons otherwise committed to die. Neurons, when co-cultured with rat fibroblasts, do not survive as long as with MSCs and do not mature to the same degree. The rescue effect of MSCs on neurons is achieved only by cellular direct contact. These results provide a valid explanation for the functional improvement reported in some in vivo experiments.