Fluoro-Ruby as a reliable marker for regenerating fiber tracts

This study introduces Fluoro-Ruby (FR) as a reliable marker for visualizing and studying the regeneration of nerve fibers, particularly in the spinal cord. FR is a highly sensitive tracer that effectively labels ascending fibers in the dorsal columns of the rat spinal cord, even after interventions like olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation. The technique is advantageous because it is resistant to photobleaching, requires no additional tissue processing for visualization, and can be used both in vivo and in vitro.

• 1
  FR effectively labels ascending fibers in the dorsal columns of the rat spinal cord, including regenerated fibers crossing injury sites.
• 2
  The use of FR did not show signs of cytotoxicity or significant inflammation.
• 3
  Direct transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) into the transected spinal cord resulted in anatomical regeneration of the transected fibers.