Regeneration of descending axon tracts after spinal cord injury.
Axons within the adult mammalian central nervous system do not regenerate spontaneously after injury. Upon injury, the balance between growth promoting and growth inhibitory factors in the central nervous system dramatically changes resulting in the absence of regeneration. Axonal responses to injury vary considerably. In central nervous system regeneration studies, the spinal cord has received a lot of attention because of its relatively easy accessibility and its clinical relevance. The present review discusses the axon-tract-specific requirements for regeneration in the rat. This knowledge is very important for the development and optimalization of therapies to repair the injured spinal cord.
Deumens
Ronald
R
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Division Neuroscience, European Graduate School of Neuroscience EURON, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands. r.deumens@np.unimaas.nl
Koopmans
Guido C
GC
Joosten
Elbert A J
EA
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy