Freshly isolated lineage-depleted bone marrow cells (Lin鈭?/sup> BMCs) were injected intravenously 2聽d after I/R. Bioluminescent imaging was used to evaluate cell localization for up to 28聽d after injury. Muscle function, the percentage of fibers with centrally located nuclei, and the capillary-to-fiber ratio were evaluated 14聽d after delivery of either saline (Saline) or saline containing Lin鈭?/sup> BMCs (Lin鈭?/sup> BMCs). Bioluminescence was higher in the injured leg than the contralateral control leg for up to 7聽d after injection (P聽<聽0.05) suggestive of cell homing to the injured skeletal muscle. Fourteen days after injury, there was a significant improvement in maximal tetanic torque (40% versus 22% deficit; P聽<聽0.05), a faster rate of force production (+dP/dt) (123.6 versus 94.5 Nmm/S; P聽<聽0.05), and a reduction in the percentage of fibers containing centrally located nuclei (40 versus 17%; P聽<聽0.05), but no change in the capillary-to-fiber ratio in the Lin鈭?/sup> BMC as compared with the Saline group. The homing of freshly isolated BMCs to injured skeletal muscle after I/R is associated with an increase in functional outcomes.Results
Conclusions