Neuropathology : official journal of the Japanese Society of Neuropathology
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Neurogenesis and angiogenesis are two important processes that may contribute to the repair of brain injury after stroke. This study was designed to investigate whether transplantation of human embryonic neural stem cells (NSCs) into cortical peri-infarction 24h after ischemia effects cell proliferation in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and angiogenesis in the peri-infarct zone. NSCs were prepared from embryonic human brains at 8 weeks gestation. ⋯ In addition, angiogenesis, as indicated by BrdU and vWF staining in cortical peri-infarct regions, was augmented by 46% and 65% in NSC-grafted rats versus medium-grafted rats at 7 and 14 days, respectively (P<0.05). However, this increase became non-significant at 28 days (P>0.05). Our results indicate that NSC transplantation enhances endogenous cell proliferation in the SVZ and promotes angiogenesis in the peri-infarct zone, even if it is performed in the acute phase of ischemic injury.