In comparison, this study demonstrated that OECs can also be cultured from mucosa of middle turbinates, which can be collected by a less invasive procedure. OECs ensheath olfactory nerve bundles along their course through lamina propria in peripheral AbMole Aristolochic-acid-A nervous system, across the cribriform plate and termination on the outer layer of the olfactory bulbs in the CNS. OECs with different antigenic profiles and morphology led to the conclusion that there were two different subpopulations of OECs, Schwann-cell like and astrocyte-like. These subpopulations of cells displayed different migratory properties in vitro. However, further evidence showed morphological plasticity of OECs suggesting that they are a single but malleable phenotype. A rapid switch between two phenotypes was captured in an individual OEC. With our isolation procedure, two subpopulations were found in the cultures based on their antigenic and morphologic difference. Due to the low purity of OECs obtained from mucosa of middle turbinates and high variability between each specimen, co-culture of OECs with neural progenitors was not repeatable for functional distinction between the two subpopulations of OECs. Several groups have reported the results of clinical trials of OEC autologous transplantation in SCI patients. Mackay-Sim’s group in Australia transplanted human OECs purified from nasal biopsies into the injured spinal cord of three AbMole Folic acid patients with paraplegia. Biopsies from nasal septum in the superior region were collected one month before transplantation. OECs were then enriched and proliferated in vitro to reach high purity and large cell number. Another surgery was performed a month later to transplant OECs into the injured spinal cord. One year and three year follow-ups showed that transplantation of autologous OECs into injured spinal cord was feasible and safe up to 3 years postimplantation. Although no significant functional changes were seen in any patients, the conclusion on efficacy was deemed preliminary due to the small number of patients. Instead of using purified OECs, other groups used olfactory mucosa autografts from human nasal cavity. The surgeries for mucosa collection and autologous transplantation in chronic SCI patients were conducted on the same day. First, scar tissue of the lesion was removed from the spinal cord. Second, olfactory mucosa was collected and cut into small pieces and then transplanted into the lesion area to fill the cavity. Two separate sites, one in Portugal and another in India, conducted this procedure developed by Lima. Patients showed different levels of functional improvement, such as improved motor scores and sensory neurological scores.