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Transplanted neural-like cells improve memory and Alzheimer-like pathology in a rat model
Hoveizi E, Mohammadi T, Moazedi AA, Zamani N, Eskandary A.. Cytotherapy, 2018-07-17
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Background aims Degeneration of the central nerve system, particularly in Alzheimer's disease, is a burden on society, and despite years of research, there is no effective treatment. Cell therapy appears to be an option that is of growing interest in neural studies. The main aim of this study was to investigate the histological and physiological effects of transplantation the neuron-like cell (NLC)-derived mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) on the repair of brain lesions in an Alzheimer's animal model (AM) in rats. Methods Behavioral experiments were conducted in the light hours in a Y-shaped maze device. Animals were randomly divided into five groups, with seven rats per group. The nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) was destroyed bilaterally with an electrical lesion (0.5 mA for 3 s). One week after the bilateral lesion of the NBM, the differentiated NLCs (0.1 mL) were injected with stereotaxic surgery using a Hamilton syringe at NBM coordinates, and behavioral and histological tests were performed by the Y-maze task and hematoxylin and eosin staining after five weeks of the lesion. Also, differentiated cells detected by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis and fluorescent immunostaining. Results The expression of neuronal markers including Nestin, Map2, NF-H, Tuj-1, GFAP and Olig-2 was surveyed by using the immunocytochemistry and qRT-PCR methods, and the results confirmed that the genes in question were expressed significantly more compared than the control sample. Five weeks after the cell transplantation in the AM, morphological and physiological investigation during the determination period confirmed improved disease state in the tested models. Conclusions It should be noted that by improving the neuronal connectivity in AM rat brains, the transplanted NLCs rescue Alzheimer's cognition. This research has presented some preclinical evidence that showed NLCs transplantation can be used for AM treatment.
Key findings
- Results The expression of neuronal markers including Nestin, Map2, NF-H, Tuj-1, GFAP and Olig-2 was surveyed by using the immunocytochemistry and qRT-PCR methods, and the results confirmed that the genes in question were expressed significantly more compared than the control sample.
Why it matters
In a rat model, transplanted neuron-like cells derived from mouse embryonic stem cells were studied for effects on memory and brain tissue after a lesion. This is early animal cell-therapy research and does not establish any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease in people.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 32/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 31 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 32 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Cytotherapy) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Cytotherapy: journal h-index 127 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2018 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Laboratory or animal study (title names “rat”) — scores zero |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 26 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.6 citations a year over 10 year(s) since 2018 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 14 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author Azade Eskandary holds only 8 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz: institution h-index 156 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 30025963) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 31 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 31 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 32 out of 100. |
| Total | 32 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription Unpaywall, Europe PMC and OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 10 Oct 2026), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Hoveizi, E., Mohammadi, T., Moazedi, A. A., Zamani, N., & Eskandary, A. (2018). Transplanted neural-like cells improve memory and Alzheimer-like pathology in a rat model. Cytotherapy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcyt.2018.03.036
Vancouver
Hoveizi E, Mohammadi T, Moazedi AA, Zamani N, Eskandary A. Transplanted neural-like cells improve memory and Alzheimer-like pathology in a rat model. Cytotherapy. 2018. doi:10.1016/j.jcyt.2018.03.036. PMID: 30025963.
BibTeX
@article{hoveizi2018-30025963,
author = {Hoveizi, E. and Mohammadi, T. and Moazedi, A. A. and Zamani, N. and Eskandary, A.},
title = {{Transplanted neural-like cells improve memory and Alzheimer-like pathology in a rat model}},
journal = {Cytotherapy},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.1016/j.jcyt.2018.03.036},
pmid = {30025963},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcyt.2018.03.036}
}
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