The Journal of physiology
The most recent articles from:
J. Physiol. (Lond.)
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The Journal of physiology · May 2001
ReviewNeurotrophic factors, cellular bridges and gene therapy for spinal cord injury.
Injury to the adult mammalian spinal cord results in extensive axonal degeneration, variable amounts of neuronal loss, and often severe functional deficits. Restoration of controlled function depends on regeneration of these axons through an injury site and the formation of functional synaptic connections. ⋯ Further, more recent experiments have shown that neurotrophic factors can also promote axonal growth, and, when combined with Schwann cell grafts, can further amplify axonal extension after injury. Continued preclinical development of these approaches to neural repair may ultimately generate strategies that could be tested in human injury.