A therapy that combines differentiated stem cells with myelin inhibitors and a motor axon tropic factor helped paralyzed rats restore functional motor units and gain some physical recovery. "This is the first report, to our knowledge, of the anatomical and functional replacement of a motor neuron circuit within the adult, mammalian host," the authors report. The study is in the July issue of Annals of Neurology, a journal published by John Wiley & Sons. The article is also available online via Wiley Interscience (www.interscience.wiley.com/journal/ana).

Scientists' ability to differentiate stem cells toward specific mature cell lineages is assisting in the study of diseases and the development of new treatments. Embryonic stem cells can be induced to create normal pathways for the generation of spinal motor neurons, and this activity can be encouraged by certain pharmacologic agents. The results could help victims of paralysis regain motor function.

Based on this hypothesis, researchers led by Douglas Kerr, M.D., Ph.D. of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine explored different strategies to restore motor function in paralyzed rats. They used agents to inhibit myelin-mediated axon repulsion and others to provide attractive cues within peripheral nerves. They hoped to stimulate the formation of functional muscular units.

They began by inducing embryonic stem cells from rats to differentiate into motor neurons. They then injected the neurons near the spinal cords of rats that had been paralyzed by a virus. To explore treatment strategies, they divided the rats into 8 groups. Some received neurons that had been treated to potentially increase their survival and their ability to extend axons. Some groups received injections of Rolipram and dibutyrl cAMP to potentially neutralize the inhibitory effects of myelin on axon outgrowth. And some groups received a motor axon tropic factor,
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Contact: Amy Molnar
amolnar@wiley.com
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
21-Jun-2006

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