The glio-axonal interaction and the problem of regeneration of axons in the central nervous system--concept and perspectives.
Lesion of the central nervous system in man is generally believed to be incurable. However, in the last time evidence accumulated that axonal growth occurs after a lesion if the growing neurites encounter a permissive environment. Since astrocytes play a considerable role as environmental factor in the CNS, the astrocytes from regenerative as well as from non-regenerative species were compared. The concept proposed here postulates that interactions between astrocytes and axons are of basic significance for fiber regeneration and have changed qualitatively during phylogeny: in lower vertebrates astrocytes guide growing and regenerating axons; in higher vertebrates including man the glioaxonal interactions were possibly deteriorated by the appearance of new compounds in the astrocytic membrane.
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*