Abstract
Elderly people whose daily activities have declined due to a cerebrovascular disorder may suffer from dysphagia and may find oral hygiene difficult. Therefore, it is important to establish an effective therapy for the underlying cerebrovascular disorder. Dedifferentiated fat cells (DFAT) were obtained from mature adipocytes isolated from human buccal adipose pads in a ceiling culture. DFAT expressed the neural markers Nestin and SOX2. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the cells had properties similar to mesenchymal stem cells. Although the transplantation of DFAT did not change the infarction area and volume ratios in a murine cerebral infarction model, functional recovery was observed in behavioral tests. Furthermore, DFAT administered to mice were later detected in cerebral infarctions. It therefore appears that transplanted DFAT affect the brain after infarction and contribute to the promotion of functional recovery. This finding may provide new cell replacement therapy options for treating disorders of the central nervous system.