Spinal cord regeneration

Stem cells restored the ability of paralyzed rats to walk

Ksenia Malysheva, Naked Science

Spinal cord injuries are difficult to treat; they often lead to limb paralysis. After some injuries, there is almost no hope of restoring their function.

Researchers from the Israeli Technion Institute of Technology injected human stem cells into paralyzed mice that had previously had their spinal cord cut, which caused limb paralysis. Stem cells injected into the tissue developed into neuroglia cells and began to actively produce neuronal growth factors.

Before introducing stem cells, scientists stimulated their division on a skeleton that mimics bone tissue, and created an environment for them in which the development of stem cells followed the path of differentiation into neuroglia cells. Proteins thrombin and fibrinogen were also added to the artificial tissue obtained on the frame, which stabilized and supported nerve cells in the spinal cord of rats.

In the area near the previously broken spine, mice were injected with tissue grown on a stem cell frame and reinforced with proteins, after which the animals demonstrated rapid recovery of motor skills. Three weeks after the stem cell injection, 42% of the paralyzed mice learned to stand and walk again; 75% regained the ability to hide their paws and tail in the presence of a frightening stimulus. Rats from the control group showed no signs of regeneration of the motor-motor apparatus.

It is worth noting that not all rats that received an injection of stem cells restored limb activity; scientists have yet to figure out why the treatment worked in some cases, but turned out to be useless in others. The mechanisms of restoring limb functionality remain unclear, so before stem cell treatment is tested on humans, scientists will have to describe exactly how stem cells contribute to regeneration.

The results of the study are published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience.

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