Cns regeneration: Clinical possibility or basic science fantasy?

Peter E. Batchelor, David W. Howells

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

20 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Following injury to the CNS, severed axons undergo a phase of abortive sprouting in the vicinity of the wound, but do not spontaneously re-grow or regenerate. From a long history of attempts to stimulate regeneraion, a major strategy that has been developed clinically is the implantation of tissue into denervated target regions. Unfortunately trials have so far not borne out the promise that this would prove a useful therapy for disorders such as Parkinson's disease. Many strategies have also been developed to stimulate the regeneration of axons across sites of injury, particularly in the spinal cord. Animal data have demonstrated that some of these approaches hold promise and that the spinal cord has a remarkable degree of intrinsic plasticity. Attempts are now being made to utilize experimental techniques in spinal patients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)523-534
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Clinical Neuroscience
Volume10
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2003
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Neural grafting
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Regeneration
  • Spinal cord
  • Sprouting

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