The Spinal Cord can be Repaired
Injury of the spinal cord completely changes a person’s life, sharing it on before and after. The painful treatment, long-term rehabilitation, and in the most terrible case of a wheelchair and immobility – that the consequences of damage nerve cells of the spinal cord. Meanwhile, doctors already have an arsenal of tools that can put the legs of patients, even in very serious condition. But U.S. scientists are now added to this piggy bank is one way. By combining expertise in biology, medicine and nanotechnology, director of the Institute bionanotechnology in medicine at Northwestern University Dr. Samuel Stapp has developed a drug that activates and adjusts the work of damaged nerve cells of the spinal cord so that they begin to repair itself and function.
“Neuroscientists have tried for many years to restore damaged nerve cells so that they do not lose their former properties, – has told RBC daily, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Head of the Department of Higher Nervous Activity, Moscow State University Valery Shul’govskil. – However, spinal cord injury violated connections between neurons, the cells do not communicate with nerve impulses, so the axons – nerve cell processes – are beginning to sprout randomly. There is a so-called spruting. By the way, the inability to regenerate neural connection – a phenomenon characteristic of higher vertebrates. If you cut the optic nerve of the frog, after a while he’ll close, and her vision restored. The organism is the same person, unfortunately, in the course of evolution lost that ability. ”
Of course, Dr. Stapp does not extradite its opening over a panacea, noting that only one biological product will not fully restore the lost functions. However, an experiment on the paralyzed rodents to cut fibers of the spinal cord responsible for the transmission of nerve impulses and movement, showed that after injection of the mice returned to bionanoveschestva mobility. And although the procedure did not lead to complete recovery of animals, lost motor function partially recovered. To run the rodents could no longer, but after two months were able to walk independently.
Preparation itself, scientists compared with liquid soap. It consists of laminin – one of the proteins of the extracellular matrix, which provides communications, migration and attachment of cells, as well as other organic molecules, which when hit in the injured area arranged in a hollow intertwined nanotubes. Based on this framework of the tubes, nerve cells grow into the right direction, and transmission of signals between them is restored. Sami nanofibers, having fulfilled their function, after about eight weeks dissolve. Enter the drug should be almost immediately after injury, in a single day, otherwise the formation of scar tissue can suppress the repair of nerve fibers.
Despite the fact that the drug is still being finalized, the administration of the Food and Drug Administration in the United States gave the green light to start clinical trials of substances for toxicity and safety in the next two years. After analysis of the impact of “soap” on human cells has not revealed any adverse effects. In the meantime, researchers are working on the development of different variations of “mylopodobnyh” molecules that help people recover from strokes, heart attacks, various injuries of bones and Parkinson’s disease. “Spinal injury – one of the most difficult, and to date, the restoration of mobility is possible only in cases where the functionality of the centers responsible for motor control, is not completely broken, – said Valeriy Shul’govskil. – The men, whose mobility was limited due to other diseases such as stroke, have all chances to restore lost mobility.
No less an effective way to restore the functions of the damaged spinal cord suggested a neuroscientist Mary Bartlett Bunge of the University of Miami. The method consists of two phases. First, in place of damage transplanted Schwann cells taken from the peripheral nervous tissue. These cells form the myelin sheaths, which, unlike the fibers of the spinal cord have the ability to regenerate. Then, in the injured area introduces a solution based on active components cyclo-AMP and roliprama stimulating the growth of nerve tissue. Testing of the opening was held for more than 100 experimental mice with various spinal injuries: spinal cord compression and damage nerve tissue. As a result, the injured area was observed fivefold increase of nerve fibers, and the mice on average by 70% to restore lost motor functions.
“Schwann cells cover the neuron, forming a shell and protecting neural tissue from destruction. According to the principle of tape wound on the wire, they provide a precise holding of nerve impulses to your destination – says RBC daily PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Medico-Biological Faculty, Russian State Medical University, Nicholas Adrian. – In turn, cyclo-AMP as an intracellular transmitter (Messenger), strengthens the chemical signals and transmit them to intracellular structures. A rolipram plays the role of an excipient, the reinforcing effect of cyclo-AMP. So this method of rehabilitation is very effective. ”
No regrets treatment and rehabilitation after spinal injury are only at the stage of development, the opening neurophysiologists can not inspire optimism. Because, as Dr. Samuel Stapp, any achievement in this area can be considered as a breakthrough and that has been created, better than nothing.