Stem cell transplantation may provide an alternative therapy to promote functional recovery after various
neurological disorders including cerebral infarct. Due to the minimal immunogenicity and neuronal differentiation
potential of neural stem cells (NSCs), we tested whether intravenous administration of mice-derived C17.2 NSCs
could improve neurological function deficit and cerebral infarction volume after ischemic stroke in rats. Additionally,
we evaluated the survival, migration, proliferation, and differentiation capacity of transplanted NSCs in the rat
brain. Intravenous infusion of NSCs after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) showed better performance in
neurobiological severity scores after MCAO compared to control. However, the volume of cerebral infarction was not
different at 7 days after MCAO compared with control. Transplanted NSCs were detected in the ischemic region but
not in the contralateral hemisphere. NSCs differentiated into neurons or astrocytes after MCAO. These data suggest
that intravenously transplanted NSCs can migrate, proliferate, and differentiate into neurons and astrocytes in the
rat brain with focal ischemia and improve functional recovery.