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Scientists Coax Nerve Fibers To Regrow

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the sweet-talking-flowers-and-chocolate-also-employed dept.

Malthooslie writes to tell us ScienceDaily is reporting that scientists have managed to regrow nerve fibers after a spinal injury. Using an enzyme called sialidase, isolated from bacteria, researchers were able to stimulate nerve fiber growth in rats. From the article: "While surgeons can sometimes reattach the yanked nerves to the spinal cord, this treatment is not as effective as physicians or patients would like. This is in part because nerves in the brain and spinal cord, unlike those in the rest of the body, fail to grow new nerve fibers. Nerves in the brain and spinal cord are surrounded by signals from other cells in the injured area that stop them from growing."

3 of 76 comments (clear)

  1. Help my memory by Profane+MuthaFucka · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Is this the 20th time I've read about this "new" development in the past year, or is this really something different than all the other times rats were made to walk again after a spinal cord break?

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  2. Yawn by Noodles · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Ever since 1983 when my spinal cord was injured, I've heard over and over that a "cure" is only 5 years away. I'll belive it when I see it.

  3. Any idea why? by pembo13 · · Score: 2, Insightful
    This is in part because nerves in the brain and spinal cord, unlike those in the rest of the body, fail to grow new nerve fibers. Nerves in the brain and spinal cord are surrounded by signals from other cells in the injured area that stop them from growing.
    Has any research been done to find out why the body didn't/hasn't adapted to work around the reasoning for said nerves not regrowing?
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