Does repair of spinal cord injury follow the evolutionary theory?

Neural Regeneration Research, 2012 · DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2012.11.009 · Published: April 1, 2012

Spinal Cord Injury Regenerative Medicine

Simple Explanation

The paper explores why lower vertebrates can regenerate spinal cords after injury, while higher vertebrates cannot. It questions if spinal cord injury (SCI) repair aligns with evolutionary principles. Understanding these differences might revolutionize SCI treatment. The evolutionary path of the nervous system is discussed, highlighting the vast differences between primitive ganglion cells (affected in Parkinson's) and advanced Betz's motor neurons (affected in SCI). This suggests different approaches are needed for treating these conditions. The research suggests that the regenerative capacity decreases with evolution. This study aims to explore the mechanisms behind this loss of potential, looking at cellular, molecular, and structural differences between species to find therapeutic targets.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Animal models (rats, monkeys) and human SCI patients

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Lower vertebrates and higher vertebrates in embryonic development possess the capability of spinal cord regeneration, but this capacity diminishes with evolution.
2
Clinical studies of OEG transplantation in SCI patients show some functional recovery in lower evolutionary level spinal cord structures, such as skin temperature and autonomic nerve function.
3
The order of neurological function recovery after SCI may follow evolutionary principles, with ancient structures showing a higher repair capacity.

Research Summary

This paper explores the evolutionary aspects of spinal cord injury (SCI) repair, focusing on why lower vertebrates can regenerate their spinal cords while higher vertebrates cannot. The study investigates differences in cellular and molecular mechanisms between lower and higher vertebrates to identify potential therapeutic targets for human SCI. The authors suggest that the success of stem cell transplantation in treating Parkinson's disease may not translate directly to SCI due to the different evolutionary levels of the affected nerve cells.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Target Identification

Understanding the evolutionary differences in spinal cord regeneration can lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets for human SCI.

Improved Assessment Systems

Future clinical studies should include a broader assessment system that considers the recovery of functions at lower evolutionary levels, such as skin nutrition and bladder function.

Integrated Intervention Strategies

Due to the complexity of SCI, integrated therapeutic intervention strategies are needed to optimize recovery, rather than relying on a single approach.

Study Limitations

1
The mechanisms behind the loss of regenerative potential with evolution are poorly understood.
2
Clinical trials are limited by the inability to directly observe pathological changes in SCI patients.
3
There are differences between laboratory-induced SCI and clinical SCI, making it difficult to translate animal study results to human treatment.

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