Immediate recovery from spinal cord injury through molecular repair of nerve membranes with polyethylene glycol.
A brief application of the hydrophilic polymer polyethylene glycol (PEG) swiftly repairs nerve membrane damage associated with severe spinal cord injury in adult guinea pigs. A 2 min application of PEG to a standardized compression injury to the cord immediately reversed the loss of nerve impulse conduction through the injury in all treated animals while nerve impulse conduction remained absent in all sham-treated guinea pigs. Physiological recovery was associated with a significant recovery of a quantifiable spinal cord dependent behavior in only PEG-treated animals. The application of PEG could be delayed for approximately 8 h without adversely affecting physiological and behavioral recovery which continued to improve for up to 1 month after PEG treatment.
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Center for Paralysis Research, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA. cpr@vet.purdue.edu
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D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009431:Neural Conduction; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012018:Reflex; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
D011092:Polyethylene Glycols