Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Mucous mesenchymal stem cells can migrate to damaged areas, and their use is proposed as a new approach to treating diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of oral mesenchymal stem cells (OMSCs) on inflammatory, oxidative stress, and histopathological indices in the tissues of the stomach, intestine, and colon after traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Adult male rats were randomly divided into four groups: Sham, TBI, Vehicle (Veh), and Stem cell (SC). Intravenous injection of OMSCs was performed at 1 and 24 h after injury. The inflammatory, oxidative stress, and histopathological indices of the tissues of the stomach, small intestine, and colon were evaluated 48 h after injury. RESULTS: After TBI, IL-1β and IL-6 levels increased and IL-10 levels decreased in the tissues of the stomach, small intestine, and colon, but the administration of OMSCS prevented these changes to a large extent. Oxidative stress indices (MDA, PC, TAC, SOD, and CAT) showed an increase in oxidative stress after TBI, but oxidative stress was less severe in the OMSC group. The administration of OMSCs after TBI improved the histopathological outcome in the tissues of the stomach, small intestine, and colon. CONCLUSION: Administration of OMSCs in rats suffering from TBI can improve inflammatory, oxidative stress, and histopathological indices in the tissues of the stomach, small intestine, and colon, which shows the beneficial effect of using OMSCs in TBI.