Extensive restoration of groß motor function by transplantation of human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) mononuclear cells after cerebral hypoxia-ischemia in neonatal rats

Background: We previously reported that intraperitoneal transplantation of hucb cells after cerebral ischemia in neonatal rats significantly reduced spastic paresis of the contralateral hind limb (Meier et al., Pediatr Res 2006 59: 244–249). Objectives: In this study, hucb cells were investigated for their potential to migrate specifically to a lesion site and restore impaired groß motor function in a rodent model of perinatal brain damage. Methods: 7 days old Wistar rats (P7, n=10 each group) underwent a ligation of the left common carotid artery followed by 80 mins of hypoxia; sham-operated animals served as c…