Peripheral Nerve Grafts Support Regeneration after Spinal Cord Injury

Neurotherapeutics, 2011 · DOI: 10.1007/s13311-011-0024-6 · Published: April 1, 2011

Spinal Cord Injury Regenerative Medicine

Simple Explanation

Peripheral nerve grafts (PNGs) can create a supportive environment for damaged nerve fibers in the spinal cord, encouraging them to regrow. These grafts provide physical support and release helpful substances that aid nerve regeneration after a spinal cord injury. While the regrown nerve fibers can be guided to specific targets, they often struggle to extend beyond the graft and back into the spinal cord tissue.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Rats, cats, and non-human primates

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Peripheral nerve grafts can promote axonal regeneration in the injured spinal cord.
2
The application of chondroitinase (ChABC) can facilitate the emergence of axons from the graft into the spinal cord by digesting growth inhibitors.
3
Regenerated axons that exit the graft can form functional synaptic contacts in the spinal cord.

Research Summary

Traumatic spinal cord injuries lead to tissue degeneration and functional reorganization. Peripheral nerve grafts offer a supportive environment for nerve regeneration after spinal cord injury, providing both physical structure and neurotrophic factors. Regenerated axons can form functional synaptic contacts, demonstrating the potential for structural and functional repair after SCI.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Strategy

Peripheral nerve grafts can be part of a combination of therapeutic strategies for SCI, including transplants, neurotrophic factors, and functional training.

Overcoming Growth Inhibition

Modulating the inhibitory extracellular matrix with chondroitinase can enhance axon outgrowth from the graft into the spinal cord.

Clinical Relevance

Autologous nerve grafts can be used to avoid immunosuppression, making the approach clinically applicable.

Study Limitations

1
Regenerating axons often fail to extend beyond the distal graft–host interface.
2
Poor re-entry of regenerated axons back into the host spinal cord.
3
Few studies correlate anatomical repair with electrophysiological or functional recovery.

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