Transplantation of neural stem cells into the modiolus of mouse cochleae injured by cisplatin

This study aimed to examine the possibility of restoration of spiral ganglion neurons, which transmit sound stimulation to the brain, by transplantation of fetal neural stem cells (NSCs) into the modiolus of cochleae. Fetal mouse NSCs expressing green fluorescence were injected into the modiolus of cisplatin-treated cochleae of mice. The temporal bones were collected 14 days after transplantation, and provided histological examination. The cell fate of transplants was determined by immunohistochemistry for a neural or glial cell-marker. Histological analysis 2 weeks after transplantation revealed robust survival of transplant-derived cells in the modiolus of the cochlea. NSCs injected in the basal portion of cochleae migrated as far as the apical end of the modiolus. Grafted NSCs expressing a neural cell marker were identified, but the majority of grafted NSCs differentiated into glial cells. These findings suggest the possible use of NSCs in cell therapy for restoration of spiral ganglion neurons. However, further treatments are required to increase the number of NSC-derived neurons in the modiolus to realize functional recovery.