The assessment of adeno-associated vectors as potential intrinsic treatments for brainstem axon regeneration

This study explores using viral vectors (AAV) to deliver therapeutic genes into neurons to promote axon regeneration after spinal cord injury. The goal is to change the intrinsic state of the neurons. The researchers used AAV to express a fluorescent protein (EGFP) in brainstem neurons, then completely transected the spinal cord and implanted a Schwann cell bridge to encourage axon regeneration. They tracked the fluorescently labeled axons. The study found AAV-EGFP is useful for visualizing axon regeneration, and that the number of axons regenerating into the bridge is related to the number of labeled axons present before the injury. They propose a model for assessing AAV-mediated therapies.

• 1
  AAV-EGFP effectively labeled brainstem neurons and their axons, allowing for visualization of their regeneration into the Schwann cell bridge.
• 2
  The number of EGFP-labeled axons that regenerated into the bridge correlated with the number of EGFP-labeled axons rostral to the bridge, indicating successful tracing.
• 3
  EGFP may not be uniformly distributed along the axon, and may accumulate distally with time, a factor to consider in quantitative studies.