Chronic Enhancement of the Intrinsic Growth Capacity of Sensory Neurons Combined with the Degradation of Inhibitory Proteoglycans Allows Functional Regeneration of Sensory Axons through the Dorsal Root Entry Zone in the Mammalian Spinal Cord

This research investigates methods to enhance the regeneration of sensory nerve fibers in the spinal cord after injury. It focuses on overcoming obstacles like inhibitory molecules and the limited growth capacity of damaged neurons. The study found that combining inflammation-induced preconditioning of sensory neurons with the enzymatic degradation of inhibitory proteoglycans significantly promotes axonal regeneration through the dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) in rats. The regenerated nerve fibers were shown to establish functional connections, as demonstrated by the presence of an H-reflex, which is an electrical representation of the tendon reflex circuit.

• 1
  Inflammation-induced preconditioning of sensory neurons combined with enzymatic degradation of inhibitory proteoglycans (CSPGs) significantly enhances axonal regeneration through the DREZ.
• 2
  The combination treatment resulted in regenerated fibers establishing functional synapses, as evidenced by the presence of an H-reflex.
• 3
  Post-lesion treatment with the combination was ineffective, indicating that preconditioning of the sensory neurons is critical for successful regeneration.