Neural stem cell secretome injection decreased neuropathic pain expression on subacute spinal cord injury rats model

Background: Neuropathic pain is one of the quality of life problems after spinal cord injury (SCI) that is caused by the lack of neurotrophic agents that modulate the regeneration process. The neural stem cell (NSC)-secretome has the potential as a neurotrophic agent for palliative treatment after SCI. The effect of NSC-secretome is still unproven. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of NSC-secretome on neuropathic pain.
Methods: In this experimental study, ten male rats were divided into two groups. The first group did not receive NSC-secretome. The second group was injected with NSC-secretome (30 µL) intrathecally into the injury site. The neuropathic pain was measured using a real-time rat grimace scale in the 3rd and 4th weeks after injury.
Result: The result of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) independent sample t-test analysis shows a significant difference between a group without and with NSC-secretome administration in the 3rd week (p<0.001) and 4th week (p=0.004). NSC-secretome group significantly decreased the neuropathic pain compared to the control group.
Conclusion: NSC-secretome injection is able to reduce the neuropathic pain expression on subacute SCI rats model.