Abstract:ObjectiveTo observe the effect of bone marrow transplantation with nerve tissue committed stem cell (NTCSCs) on acoustic nerve injury in rats.Methods60 rats were randomly divided into 5 groups equal in number. Group A was control group. Sensorineural deafness was induced in animals of Group B, C, D and E. Bone marrow NTCSCs transfected by green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene were transplanted to left ear cochlea modiolus of rats in group C, D and E. The cochlear axis slice was observed under a fluorescence microscope after HE staining. The survivorship, distribution site and expression of NTCSCs transfected with EGFP were observed.ResultsIn the slices of inner ear cochlea, the bone marrow NTCSCs transfected by green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene were dispersed in the lacuma of the tympanic canal of cochlea in group C (one week after transplantation), in the basal membrane and Corti’s organ in group D (two weeks after transplantation). In group E (four weeks after transplantation), aggregation of NTCSCs cluster with two or three cells was observed, and the location was close to basal membrane and Corti’s organ with good distribution and tendency of migratory behaviour. With the time extension of bone marrow NTCSCs transplantation, Nestin (+) cells significantly increased (P<0.05) while Myosin Ⅶa (+) showed no significant change in number of cells (P>0.05).ConclusionsBone marrow NTCSCs transplanted to rat cochlea can gradually differentiate into spiral ganglion neurons, and therefore can repair acoustic nerve injury to some degree.