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Background: Research evidence has indicated that monosodium glutamate (MSG) consumption produces certain deleterious effects on the cerebellum of adult rats at high doses which can consequently affect cerebellar function. The use of stem cells in nervous system disorders is a growing field, which in numerous reports has shown promising results in the restoration of neurological function. Aim: To compare the effect of injection of human umbilical cord blood CD34+ stem cells versus CD34- fraction in a rat model of cerebellar damage induced by monosodium glutamate. Methods: Forty adult female albino rats were equally randomized into 4 groups: group I served as control, group II received MSG, group III received MSG followed by CD34+ stem cell separated from umbilical cord blood of human male fetuses, group IV received MSG followed by the CD34- fraction. At the end of the experiment, all rats were subjected to assessment of motor function, histological and immunohistochemical techniques as well as a polymerase chain reaction analysis of male-specific Sry gene. Results: Group II showed a significant decrease in the mean number of Purkinje cells and cells of the molecular layer. Nissl’s granules and length of dendrites of Purkinje cells were markedly decreased. Marked increase of GFAP immunoexpression in astrocytes was also detected. Group III stem cells showed improvement in motor function after 4 weeks of treatment. The CD34- group (IV) showed more increase in the number of cells in the molecular, granular and Purkinje cell layers as well as an increase in Nissl’s granules and Purkinje cell dendrite length compared to CD34+ stem cell group (III). There was also a significant decrease in optical density of GFAP immunoexpression of the CD 34- group compared to both MSG and CD34+ groups. The Sry gene was not detected in either of the CD34+ and CD34- groups implying that the improvement happened without homing of stem cells in the cerebellum. Conclusion: Both CD34 -ve and CD34+ve stem cells improved cerebellar structure and function against damage induced by monosodium glutamate; however CD34- stem cells showed more improvement than CD34+ stem cells.

An IgG2a anti-Schistosoma mansoni mouse monoclonal antibody was shown to passively protect Swiss mice. The 74 kDa target antigen was isolated from antigenic extracts of S. mansoni adult worms. Swiss and C57 BL/6J mice were immunized with 30, 50, 100 and 200 microg antigen/mouse doses with and without Freund's adjuvant. Sera of immunized mice showed high reactivity against 74 kDa antigen. The highest protection level (76.6% in Swiss mice and 50.1% in C57 BL/6J mice) was obtained using the 50 microg antigen dose with and without Freund's adjuvant. A marked reduction in granuloma number and intensity of collagen and reticular granuloma fibers was observed. The 74 kDa antigen has the ability to protect mice of different strains and to modulate the host immune system.

Schistosoma circulating antigens were used for the detection of active infection. Anti-S. mansoni IgG2a monoclonal antibody (MAb) designated C5C4 was generated. The target epitope of this MAb was detected in adult worms, eggs, and cercariae antigenic extracts of S. mansoni and S. haematobium, had a molecular size of 63 kD, and was not detected in Fasciola hepatica and Ascaris. In addition, a 50-kD degradation product was identified only in the urine of infected individuals. Analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography of the purified antigen demonstrated only one peak. The 63-kD antigen was characterized as a protein containing 40.4% hydrophobic, 7.5% acidic, and 8.8% basic amino acids. The C5C4 MAb was used in a Fast Dot-ELISA for rapid and simple diagnosis of human schistosomiasis. The 63-kD circulating antigen was detected in 92% of urine samples from 330 S. mansoni-infected individuals, with 16% false-positive results among 130 noninfected individuals.