The effect of ultrasound for increasing neural differentiation in hBM-MSCs and inducing neurogenesis in ischemic stroke model

Aims This study's purpose was to evaluate the effect of ultrasound in air at a frequency of 0.04 MHz and an intensity of 50 mW/cm² on neural differentiation of hBM-MSCs in vitro and on neurogenesis in an ischemic stroke model. Materials and methods hBM-MSCs were exposed to 0.04 MHz ultrasound and then compared with no exposed one in cell morphology, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, RT-PCR, and Western blot. In addition, we made stroke model mice by means of the photothrombosis (PT) method and these models were exposed to 0.04 MHz ultrasound after hBM-MSCs injection. We compared with sham group in histological and immunohistochemical analysis and western blot. Key findings Ultrasound induced neural differentiation without cell death. In stroke models, inflammatory cells were observed around the infarct area in the Cell, Cell/Ultrasound group and the brain infarct volume in the Cell/Ultrasound group was smaller than in the sham group. Further, the expression of neural proteins in the Cell/Ultrasound group was increased relative to the sham group. Significance The present study showed that ultrasound promotes neural differentiation of hBM-MSC and neurogenesis in a mouse stroke model. This may be applicable as a therapeutic device with the aim of inducing neurogenesis following stroke.