Objective      To explore the effect of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transplantation combined with chondro-itinrase ABC (ChABC) on the recovery of nerve function after spinal cord injury in rats.       Methods      A total of 60 adult male SD rats were selected

and the spinal cord injury model was established. The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (15 rats per group): a control group (group A)

a BMSCs transplantation group (group B)

a ChABC injection group (group C)

and a ChABC+BMSCs transplantation group (group D). The rat conditions on the 7th and 14th days after injury were recorded

and the rats were executed to detect specimens. Basso-beattie-bresnahan (BBB) score was used to evaluate the rat hind leg movement functions. On the 7th day after injury

the level of neuron apoptosis was detected with TUNEL assay

and on the 14th day after injury

HE staining was used to calculate the total area of the injured zones. Immunohistochemical assay was employed to examine the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)

neurofilament-200 (NF-200) and Nogo-A protein in the injured spinal cord.       Results      On the 7th day after injury

no significant differences in the BBB scores wre found among the 4 groups (P=0.892). On the 14th day after injury

the BBB scores of groups A to D were 6.33±1.00

7.25±0.96

7.33±0.58

and 9.75±0.96

respectively

and the BBB score of group D was obviously higher than that of the other three groups (P0.05). On the 14th day after injury

HE staining showed that the cavities were formed in the injured zones

and the cavity areas of groups A to D were: 4.44±0.18

3.70±0.21

3.23±0.22

and 2.33±0.31

respectively. The injured area of group D was significantly smaller than that of the other three groups (P0.05). On the 14th day after injury

the immunohistochemical assay showed that the expression of GFAP/Nogo-A in group D was obviously lower than that of the other three groups (P0.05)

while the expression of NF-200 in group D was obviously higher (P0.05). On the 7th day after injury

the TUNEL result showed that the apoptosis cells in group D were significantly less than those in the other three groups (P0.05).       Conclusion      BMSCs transplantation combined with ChABC can dissolve glial scar

reduce neuron apoptosis

and promote the regeneration of nerve fibers to cross the injured spinal cord zones

having significant repair effect on spinal cord injury.