By triggering the regeneration of nerve cells in mice with spinal cord injuries, biologists partially restored the animals’ ability to walk. Scientists from the University of California at Los Angeles, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and Harvard University participated in the study. The research was published in the journal Science.
In a 2018 study published in the journal Nature, scientists found a way to trigger the growth of axons (tiny fibers that connect nerve cells and allow them to communicate) after spinal cord injury in rodents. Although this approach successfully resulted in axonal regeneration in severe spinal cord lesions, the animals did not return normal walking ability.
In a new study, scientists found that in addition to stimulating the growth of axons, it is also important to guide them. Neuroscientists showed that stimulating growth of axons towards their natural target areas led to significant improvement of movement in mice, whereas random regrowth was ineffective. They used specific chemical signals to direct axonal regeneration.
Scientists also used advanced genetic analysis to identify groups of nerve cells that contribute to recovery of walking after partial spinal cord injury.
The study opens important prospects for the development of treatments aimed at restoring neurological function in large animals and humans. But the researchers also acknowledge the difficulty of promoting long-distance regeneration in larger animals.
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Source: Gazeta
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