Intrathecal Delivery of Stem Cells to the Spinal Cord

Cellular transplantation is a promising therapeutic strategy for spinal cord injury (SCI); the clinical application of transplantation, however, will require safe and efficient protocols of cell delivery. Lumbar puncture (LP) is a minimally invasive delivery method that allows multiple cell deliveries into the intrathecal space, resulting in cell accumulation at the site of injury. Here we review the effectiveness of the LP technique in rodent models of SCI, the advantages of LP compared to traditional parenchymal injection and other minimally invasive methods, and provide detailed instructions for LP delivery of stem cells to the injured rat spinal cord.