Neurosurgery
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Multicenter Study
Culture of olfactory ensheathing cells for central nerve repair: the limitations and potential of endoscopic olfactory mucosal biopsy.
Autotransplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) into the damaged central nervous system is a potential therapeutic strategy for spinal cord and root cord injuries. One limiting factor has been the poor OEC yields from human mucosal biopsies. Previous studies have only commented on their success in obtaining mucosal specimens containing olfactory mucosa, but have not commented on the yield of OECs from those specimens. ⋯ We have provided evidence that biopsies closer to the cribriform plate can produce larger yields of OECs, and that patient factors like age and mucosal disease adversely affect the culture yield.