Enteric glia promote regeneration of transected dorsal root axons into spinal cord of adult rats.
After spinal cord injury axonal regeneration is poor, but may be enhanced by the implantation of olfactory ensheathing glia (OEG). Enteric glia (EG) share many properties of OEG. Transected dorsal root axons normally do not regenerate through the central nervous system myelin into the spinal cord. We tested whether EG, like OEG, could promote regeneration in this paradigm. Three weeks after EG implantation, numerous regenerating dorsal root axons reentered the spinal cord. Ingrowth of dorsal root axons was observed using 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate. Primary sensory afferents invaded laminae 1, 2, and 3, grew through laminae 4 and 5, and reached the dorsal gray commissure. No axonal ingrowth was observed in control animals, indicating that transplanted EG enabled regeneration of the injured dorsal root axons into the adult spinal cord. Thus, EG implantation may be beneficial in promoting axonal growth after central nervous system injury.
Jiang
Shucui
S
Department of Medicine, McMaster University Health Sciences Centre 4N71, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3Z5, Canada.
Wang
Jian
J
Khan
Mohammad I
MI
Middlemiss
Pamela J
PJ
Salgado-Ceballos
Hermelinda
H
Werstiuk
Eva S
ES
Wickson
Ray
R
Rathbone
Michel P
MP
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002455:Cell Division; D002465:Cell Movement; D002469:Cell Separation; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000294:innervation; D051379:Mice; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery