Browse the latest research summaries in the field of neurology for spinal cord injury patients and caregivers.
Showing 5,151-5,160 of 5,401 results
The Journal of Cell Biology, 2006 • April 10, 2006
This study identifies repulsive guidance molecule A (RGMa) as a potent inhibitor of axon regeneration in the adult central nervous system (CNS). RGMa inhibits neurite outgrowth through the RhoA-Rho ki...
KEY FINDING: RGMa inhibits mammalian CNS neurite outgrowth by activating the RhoA–Rho kinase pathway, a key signaling pathway involved in growth cone collapse and axon repulsion.
The Journal of Neuroscience, 2006 • April 19, 2006
This study investigates the role of activated microglia in maintaining chronic pain after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. The researchers hypothesized that activated spinal microglia contribute to c...
KEY FINDING: Thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats causes chronic activation of microglia in the lumbar spinal cord.
The Journal of Neuroscience, 2006 • April 19, 2006
This study investigated the effect of degrading chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) with chondroitinase ABC (chABC) on functional collateral sprouting in the cuneate nucleus after cervical spina...
KEY FINDING: Chondroitinase ABC (chABC) treatment effectively reduced CSPGs within and surrounding the cuneate nucleus in rats with cervical spinal cord injury.
Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, 2006 • April 22, 2006
This study examines the potential of autologous adult stem cell transplantation and polymer scaffolds for spinal cord regeneration. It compares the effects of intravenous injections of mesenchymal ste...
KEY FINDING: In rats, MSC and BMC treatments led to smaller lesions, improved motor function, and faster recovery of sensitivity in hind limbs. MSC treatment showed more pronounced functional improvement.
The Journal of Neuroscience, 2006 • May 3, 2006
After treatment with antibodies that bind to and neutralize specifically the NG2 proteoglycan, medium- and large-diameter mechanosensory axons grow into the growth nonpermissive environment of the gli...
KEY FINDING: Treatment of acute spinal cord injuries with antibodies that neutralize NG2 function can promote the regeneration of ascending mechanosensory axons.
PNAS, 2006 • May 16, 2006
This study investigates the role of Olig genes in the development of NG2 cells, a type of glial progenitor cell in the central nervous system. The researchers found that Olig2, a basic helix–loop–heli...
KEY FINDING: More than 90% of NG2 cells in the brain express Olig2 at prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal stages of development.
The Journal of Neuroscience, 2006 • May 17, 2006
The study compares the gene expression profiles of three OEC populations that differ in their capacity to promote adult axonal regeneration in vitro to identify molecules that OECs use to promote axon...
KEY FINDING: MMP2 and its inhibitor Timp2 are candidate molecules that may promote and inhibit axonal regeneration, respectively. MMP2 was found to be present in medium conditioned by primary and TEG3 OECs, whereas MMP2 was barely detected in OEC Lp conditioned medium.
The Journal of Neuroscience, 2006 • May 24, 2006
This study investigates the impact of Nogo-A deletion on axonal regeneration in two different mouse strains, 129X1/SvJ and C57BL/6, following spinal cord injury. The findings demonstrate that Nogo-A d...
KEY FINDING: Nogo-A-deficient mice displayed enhanced regeneration of the corticospinal tract after injury, confirming Nogo-A's role as an inhibitor of axonal regeneration.
Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, 2006 • May 6, 2006
This study aimed to understand the complex mechanisms underlying repair and regeneration after spinal cord injury by examining gene expression changes. Researchers used improved subtractive hybridizat...
KEY FINDING: The study identified 40 differentially expressed genes 4.5 days after spinal cord transection in rats, including 32 known genes and 8 novel genes.
Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, 2006 • June 16, 2006
This study investigates the potential of using transdifferentiated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to promote nerve regeneration and myelination. Demyelination is a critical factor in various neurologic...
KEY FINDING: Transdifferentiated MSCs can myelinate PC12 cells in vitro, similar to Schwann cells, but the degree of myelination depends on the culture medium used.