An experimental study of preventing and treating acute radioactive enteritis with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells

Objective: To test the curative effect of human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells on rat acute radioactive enteritis and thus to provide clinical therapeutic basis for radiation sickness. Methods: Human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells were cultivated in vitro and the model of acute radioactive enteritis of rats was established. Then, the umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells were injected into the rats via tail vein. Visual and histopathological changes of the experimental rats were observed. Results: After the injection, the rats in the prevention group and treatment group had remarkably better survival status than those in the control group. The histological observations revealed that the former also had better intestinal mucosa structure, more regenerative cells and stronger proliferation activity than the latter. Conclusions: Human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells have a definite therapeutic effect on acute radioactive enteritis in rats.