Scientists have reversed paralysis in dogs after injecting them with cells grown from the lining of their nose, offering new hope for paralysed humans.
Scientists say this would be vital for spinal injury patients in humans who had lost sexual function or bowel and bladder control.
The pets had all suffered spinal injuries which prevented them from using their back legs, the BBC News reported.
Cambridge University researchers are cautiously optimistic the technique could eventually have a role in the treatment of human patients.
Researchers said the study is the first to test the transplant in “real-life” injuries rather than laboratory animals. The dogs had olfactory ensheathing cells from the lining of their nose removed. These were grown and expanded for several weeks in the laboratory.
The dogs that received the transplant showed considerable improvement and were able to walk on a treadmill with the support of a harness. Researchers say the transplanted cells regenerated nerve fibres across the damaged region of the spinal cord.
This enabled the dogs to regain the use of their back legs and coordinate movement with their front limbs. The study was published in the neurology journal Brain.
Scientists say this would be vital for spinal injury patients in humans who had lost sexual function or bowel and bladder control.
The pets had all suffered spinal injuries which prevented them from using their back legs, the BBC News reported.
Cambridge University researchers are cautiously optimistic the technique could eventually have a role in the treatment of human patients.
Researchers said the study is the first to test the transplant in “real-life” injuries rather than laboratory animals. The dogs had olfactory ensheathing cells from the lining of their nose removed. These were grown and expanded for several weeks in the laboratory.
The dogs that received the transplant showed considerable improvement and were able to walk on a treadmill with the support of a harness. Researchers say the transplanted cells regenerated nerve fibres across the damaged region of the spinal cord.
This enabled the dogs to regain the use of their back legs and coordinate movement with their front limbs. The study was published in the neurology journal Brain.
No comments:
Post a Comment